Tour de France 2007: Stage One Route

The first leg of the 2007 Tour de France will see the cream of the world's cyclists speeding from central London, via Medway, Maidstone and the Weald, before the finish in Canterbury.

Great Britain has previously hosted stages of the Tour in 1974 and 1994 and will host the Grand Départ in 2007.

The three-day extravaganza begins with the opening ceremony in Trafalgar Square on Friday 6 July and continues with the prologue time trial around the streets of London on the Saturday. On the Sunday the focus shifts to Kent when Stage One of the race travels across the county and finishes against the historic backdrop of Canterbury Cathedral.
The Route

The 2007 Stage One route begins in London and goes through Westminster, Greenwich, Woolwich, Erith, Dartford and Gravesend. It then goes through Medway, Maidstone, Tonbridge, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Tenterden, Ashford, Stone Street and into Canterbury for the finish.

Because of the need to keep the riders, spectators and general public safe, the Tour takes place on completely closed roads, which means that affected roads will be closed for several hours. Alternative routes will be signed and Canterbury City Council will be providing detailed advice and information to people and businesses along the route.