Tour de France in Yorkshire - Leeds to the Dales

In the run-up to the Tour de France, ITV News correspondent Gregg Easteal rode all 245 miles of the route through Yorkshire, meeting the people preparing to welcome it.

This is the first of his series of reports, on the route from Leeds and up into the Yorkshire Dales:

Watch Gregg Easteal's report above.

• Harewood House - "There's a way for everyone to get involved in cycling"

After riders have gathered in Leeds city centre, they will head out to the ceremonial start line at Harewood House.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry will cut the cord for the official start. There will also be a three-day festival of cycling for the public there.

Gregg met the Olympic gold medallist Chris Boardman, who wore the yellow jersey three times during the 1990s.

He said he is pinching himself that the Tour is coming to this area.

Watch Chris Boardman's interview above.

• *Otley - *"They said le Tour was coming here; I said, you need your head examined!"

In Otley, Gregg met members of Otley cycle club. who live and breathe the sport. One said she took up the sport because of local girl Lizzie Armitstead's success at the London 2012 Olympics.

Watch Gregg with members of Otley cycling club.

• Ilkley - "People are getting the bike bug"

The race will pass Ilkley Cycles. The store's owner Adam Evans said the cycling business is booming.

Watch Adam Evans' interview.

• Hawes - "Up t'ill, downt' dale"

From Ilkley, the Tour pushes north into the heart of the Yorkshire Dales. It is great for shops and businesses already on the tourist trail.

Helen Iveson has made her own merchandise using local artist Graham Ashbridge's sketches.

She says some tourists struggle to pronounce the Yorkshire slogans.

Watch Helen Iveson's interview above.

Let us know where you will be watching the Tour de France via our Facebook page - www.facebook.com/itvtynetees.

More from the later stages of the Tour de France route through Yorkshire to follow.