UK and the Tour de France

The tour was brought to the UK this year in part due to the success of cycling at the 2012 Olympics and partly due to the back to back Tour de France wins of Bradley Wiggins (2012 TDF) and Chris Froome (2013 TDF).  Both ride for Team Sky, although Wiggins didn't make the team for this year's Tour de France.  Another local success story is Mark Cavendish, of Harrogate, who many thought would pull some of this year's England stages.

The country has done a tremendous job of preparing for the race, including getting into the spirit by putting up bunting, signs, and some unusual decorations.  One decoration that appears everywhere are spray-painted yellow bikes in the little towns and villages.  Many won't see the Tour go through them but are supporting the national effort to show the beautiful parts of Yorkshire.  Below are two--one from a pub called The Dexter,

and another done by the Girl and Boy Scouts in Shadwell Village.

In Leeds, the start of the race, there's a big sign on the ground at the starting line:

Hotels decorated with bikes:

And statues decorated with yellow jerseys:

Finally, a mechanical countdown clock sits in a shopping area near downtown:

I'm sure it's gratifying for tour organizers to see such a welcome in Leeds.