The Tour De France - Stage 1 - Comes To Yorkshire

Tour De France - Stage 1 - Buttertubs Pass

A usual afternoon on Buttertube Pass

The week before Le Tour arrived in Yorkshire I went on a bike ride to recce where I was going to watch it from. I figured Buttertubs Pass would be a good spot as it would slow the riders down and there were steep slopes around to get a good view. And it's just a beautiful, wild part of Yorkshire

While on the recce I took a snap down the hill. This is what it looks like when there is no Tour, green and pleasant with a lone cyclist tootling along.

Unfortunately for this cyclist, Adam Bushnell of Bristol, on holiday riding the tour route, his chain snapped on the steepest part of the ascent. But fortunately for him his dad was following in the car.

You know something's up when you see a tractor with a satellite dish

I returned to Hawes on the day of the Grand Depart, with time to kill I have a look round town first. The town is full of people, there's a great atmosphere and there's even tractors kitted out with satellite dishes.

An un-usual afternoon on Buttertube Pass

Crowds gather at Buttertubs Pass for the Tour De France

Cote de Buttertubs is a bit busier this time round

Spectators make their way up the pass

Lots of people walked and cycled up the pass to find their viewing spots

Excitement mounts as the BBC helicopter arrives

There's a festival atmosphere and that increases when the BBC news helicopter hovers over us, or should I say below us.

The caravane arrives

The caravane arrives adding to the fun with the surreal floats and free gifts thrown to the crowd

Man cheers oven chips

High on the additives from the free haribos given out by the Tour De France Caravane, the spectators at Buttertubs Pass attempt to execute some Mexican Waves

A lot of bikes

I've never seen so many bikes in the same place a one time

Finally the riders arrive

.... but it proves quite hard to see them

It's all over and everyone makes their way home

What a great day, and what a great advert for Yorkshire.

I'm so glad that I live in Leeds and can get out to the Dales in no time at all to enjoy cycling in such beautiful countryside.