In Pictures: Tour de France ceremony staged in Leeds

Team Sky is greeted by supporters as they ride through Millenium Square en-route to the Team Presentation prior to the 2014 Le Tour de France. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

A parade of participants in the 2014 Tour de France was held ahead of the race's opening ceremony at Leeds Arena.

Opening ceremony for the Tour de France in Leeds

More than 10,000 people watched the two hour ceremony which featured music, dance and video from over 200 performers from across Yorkshire.

Kimberley Walsh performs at the opening ceremony of the Tour de France in Leeds

Girls Aloud's Kimberley Walsh performed The Road, which is the official anthem for the Grand Depart of the Tour de France.

Team sky riders with Christopher Froome of Britain pose during the opening ceremony of the Tour de France cycling race in Leeds.

The ceremony featured the presentation of the 22 teams participating in the race with the largest cheers for Christopher Froome and Team Sky.

Mark Cavendish riding through the streets of Leeds

Mark Cavendish, whose mother is from Yorkshire, was another popular rider with the crowds as he cycled towards the arena.

Leeds Arena

The first stage of the Tour de France takes riders from Leeds to Harrogate on Saturday. The second stage runs from York to Sheffield on Sunday. A third stage, from Cambridge to London, will take place on Monday.