Video round-up Tour de France special - including Team presentation

If you missed yesterday evening’s Tour de France presentation in Utrecht, here’s a highlights video from the organisers of this year’s Grand Depart plus the full version, if you’re inclined to watch it – as well as some other videos we’ve noticed in the run-up to the race.

First off, that highlights video of the presentation in the Dutch city yesterday, which saw the 198 riders arrive by boat to be introduced to a crowd estimated at 10,000 people.

Here’s the full version.

Next up, a video tweeted by Team Sky yesterday. While the cycling part opens with crowd shots from last year’s Grand Depart in Yorkshire, much of the footage comes from two years ago, when Chris Froome won the yellow jersey. 12 months ago of course, he crashed out on the cobbles.

RT! Excited for the #TDF2015?? Show your friends how tough the race is with this short @TeamSky film! #AllezTeamSky https://t.co/3dnzfR7Rxo

— Team Sky (@TeamSky) July 2, 2015

Sky has also produced an infographic that seeks to answer the question, “How tough is the Tour?”

How tough is the Tour? Our #TDF2015 Infographic crunches the numbers. Download: http://t.co/n83Ci1Shpt #AllezTeamSky pic.twitter.com/Zhst0W0zIF

— Team Sky (@TeamSky) July 1, 2015

A young Dutchman who considers Froome his hero got to meet the Team Sky rider after winning the latest instalment in Shimano Race TV’s #BELIEVE competition.

Travis Klok’s friend and next door neighbour died aged 10, which inspired him to arrange a team to take part in a charity ride up Alpe d’Huez – and no doubt he will be cheering Froome on three weeks tomorrow when the race tackles what will be the final climb of this year’s race.

Finally, Orica-GreenEdge’s line-up for this year’s race, announced in this video, includes twin brothers Adam and Simon Yates – two of a record-equalling 10 British riders in this year’s Tour.

The Australian team has a pretty good record at Grand Tours – while not challenging for the GC, it does have a habit of getting riders into the race lead in the opening week or so, especially if there is a team time trial along the line, as well as getting individual stage wins.