A sign welcoming the 2014 Tour de France adorns the countryside surrounding the Yorkshire village of Haworth where the famous literary Bronte sisters lived.
Bronte country —
A sign welcoming the 2014 Tour de France adorns the countryside surrounding the Yorkshire village of Haworth where the famous literary Bronte sisters lived.
Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
Banners advertising the Tour de France can be seen at the site of stage one of the tour as Yorkshire and Leeds prepares to host Le Grand Depart.
Sign of the times —
Banners advertising the Tour de France can be seen at the site of stage one of the tour as Yorkshire and Leeds prepares to host Le Grand Depart.
Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
The reigning Tour de France champion Chris Froome will be looking to replicate his successes in last year's tour, which saw him win three stages and finish over four minutes clear of his nearest rival.
Froome favorite —
The reigning Tour de France champion Chris Froome will be looking to replicate his successes in last year's tour, which saw him win three stages and finish over four minutes clear of his nearest rival.
Chris Graythen/Getty Images
Bradley Wiggins was victorious in the 2012 Tour but has been left out of Team Sky's lineup for the 2014 race with Froome preferred as team leader.
Wiggins absent —
Bradley Wiggins was victorious in the 2012 Tour but has been left out of Team Sky's lineup for the 2014 race with Froome preferred as team leader.
Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
Two-time champion Alberto Contador is considered the main threat to Froome's dominance. The Spaniard won the Tirreno Adriatico in Italy earlier this year and has impressed in other warm-up races.
Contador threat —
Two-time champion Alberto Contador is considered the main threat to Froome's dominance. The Spaniard won the Tirreno Adriatico in Italy earlier this year and has impressed in other warm-up races.
Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images
Vincenzo Nibali came third in the 2012 Tour de France and won the 2013 Giro D'Italia. With a strong team behind him and incredible descending skills, the 'Shark from Messina' could leave Froome and Contador chasing his shadow.
Italian challenge —
Vincenzo Nibali came third in the 2012 Tour de France and won the 2013 Giro D'Italia. With a strong team behind him and incredible descending skills, the 'Shark from Messina' could leave Froome and Contador chasing his shadow.
Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
A mechanical mishap in last year's Tour de France left Alejandro Valverde chasing the pack, but this year he takes full leadership of Movistar's team and has been in fine form in 2014.
Movistar leader —
A mechanical mishap in last year's Tour de France left Alejandro Valverde chasing the pack, but this year he takes full leadership of Movistar's team and has been in fine form in 2014.
Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
Last year's runner-up Nairo Quintana has skipped this year's Tour de France, much to the relief of the likes of Froome and Contador. The Colombian won the 2014 Giro d'Italia to underline his growing ability.<br />
Future winner? —
Last year's runner-up Nairo Quintana has skipped this year's Tour de France, much to the relief of the likes of Froome and Contador. The Colombian won the 2014 Giro d'Italia to underline his growing ability.
Harry Engels/Getty Images
Christian Prudhomme, director of the Tour de France, rides one of the 101 specially designed bikes that have been put into circulation to celebrate the Tour coming to England.
Commemorative bikes —
Christian Prudhomme, director of the Tour de France, rides one of the 101 specially designed bikes that have been put into circulation to celebrate the Tour coming to England.
Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images
An iconic yellow bicycle mingles in between the Ivy at a cottage located at stage two of the tour in Yorkshire. The population of these towns prepare themselves to welcome the event and its athletes by decorating the routes in colored buntings and yellow bicycles.
Warm welcome —
An iconic yellow bicycle mingles in between the Ivy at a cottage located at stage two of the tour in Yorkshire. The population of these towns prepare themselves to welcome the event and its athletes by decorating the routes in colored buntings and yellow bicycles.
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Tour de France graffiti adorns a wall in the northern England town of Rochdale. The competitors will pass through there as part of the English stages of the race.
Graffiti artist —
Tour de France graffiti adorns a wall in the northern England town of Rochdale. The competitors will pass through there as part of the English stages of the race.
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Canal boats at the Skipton Waterway Festival in England are decorated in honor of this year's Tour de France.
French flavor —
Canal boats at the Skipton Waterway Festival in England are decorated in honor of this year's Tour de France.
Ian Forsyth/Getty Images
Signs referencing the Tour have been propping up all over Yorkshire, even on farms. The huge impact of the iconic event on the communities can be seen everywhere.
Tour welcome —
Signs referencing the Tour have been propping up all over Yorkshire, even on farms. The huge impact of the iconic event on the communities can be seen everywhere.
Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
2013 Tour de France winner Froome's name is painted on the road mimicking a stop sign as Yorkshire prepares itself to be a site in the Tour de France's Grand Depart.
Froome fans —
2013 Tour de France winner Froome's name is painted on the road mimicking a stop sign as Yorkshire prepares itself to be a site in the Tour de France's Grand Depart.
Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
A pub in Yorkshire is decorated in King of the Mountains polka dots. The polka dots refer to the leader of the mountains competition as they wear a distinctive polka dot jersey throughout the competition.
Polka Dot pub —
A pub in Yorkshire is decorated in King of the Mountains polka dots. The polka dots refer to the leader of the mountains competition as they wear a distinctive polka dot jersey throughout the competition.
Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
Yorkshire has getting into the French flavor of the Tour and signs like this one have been popping up all over the route.
Local humor —
Yorkshire has getting into the French flavor of the Tour and signs like this one have been popping up all over the route.
Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
The winding trails through the French Alps are the postcard for the Tour de France, yet its conditions are far from favorable. Stiff gradients and lengthy climbs await the 198-strong peloton.
Alps challenge —
The winding trails through the French Alps are the postcard for the Tour de France, yet its conditions are far from favorable. Stiff gradients and lengthy climbs await the 198-strong peloton.
Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images
Fans of all nationalities line the roadside throughout the 3,664km route to cheer on their heroes.
Fervent fans —
Fans of all nationalities line the roadside throughout the 3,664km route to cheer on their heroes.
Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images
The 19th stage of the Tour takes the riders on a 208 km largely flat stage with sprinters like Mark Cavendish expected to come to the front at the finish.<br />
Welcome relief —
The 19th stage of the Tour takes the riders on a 208 km largely flat stage with sprinters like Mark Cavendish expected to come to the front at the finish.
Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images
The beauty of the Tour is captured in unique images of each year's race.
Iconic images —
The beauty of the Tour is captured in unique images of each year's race.
Jeff Pachoud/AFP/Getty Images
With 21 stages over 22 days, riders face the ultimate test of sporting endurance. Can Froome defend his title? Or will there be a new champion at this year's Tour de France?
Who will be in yellow? —
With 21 stages over 22 days, riders face the ultimate test of sporting endurance. Can Froome defend his title? Or will there be a new champion at this year's Tour de France?
Jeff Pachoud/AFP/Getty Images