Tour de France cranks up London

The Tour de France wheels into London for the first time in its 100-year history this evening, with an opening ceremony in Trafalgar Square designed by Innovision.

Transport for London, which is one of the main organisers of the London race stages, appointed the events group to create a show for the Grand Depart that ‘will light up Trafalgar Square with a spectacular celebration of Tour de France arrivals in London.’ It starts at 6pm and is expected to include a surprise live music event.

The race kicks off in earnest tomorrow with the Tour prologue, an individual time trial down Whitehall, past Buckingham Palace and around Hyde Park. Sunday morning sees start of the first stage proper, a 124-mile race from The Mall to Canterbury, preceded by the race caravane – a parade of key Tour sponsors – which begins at 8.35am.

Full details can be found at http://www.tourdefrancelondon.com/en.