The most famous bicycle race in the world, the Tour de France, kicked off this weekend with its first two stages, which were held in the UK countryside.
For this year's race, 198 competitors are participating in the Tour de France. The race will take them through a grueling three-week ride through four countries, ending in the Champs Elysees in Paris on July 27. On Saturday, Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, bestowed the first race leader, the winner of the first stage Marcel Kittel, the coveted Yellow Jersey at the day's awards ceremony.
The first stage went from Leeds to Harrogate. On Sunday, Vincenzo Nibali topped all racers in the second stage between York and Sheffield, temporarily capturing the Yellow Jersey.
Overall, the favorites to win the race are defending champion Chris Froome, a 29-year-old Kenyan-born Briton who leads Team Sky, and two-time Spanish champion Alberto Contador.
Here are some of the best pictures from the first two days of competition.
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BONUS: Nibali Gets Denied When Seeking Celebratory Kiss
Additional reporting by The Associated Press