Thousands lined the streets of Chelmsford today to welcome the famous Tour De France though the city.
They were joined by reporter Will Watkinson and photographer Aaron Chown
Spectators cheered on the competitors, and cycling enthusiasts from as far and wide as Canada and Costa Rica watched one of the world's biggest sports events from perches in from Chignal Road and Roxwell Road –with huge screens showing the action in nearby Admirals Park.
Riders travelled from Cambridge down to London via Chelmsford, before heading towards Epping.
Tom Sherrington, headteacher at King Edward Grammar School (KEGS) in Chelmsford brought his year nine and ten pupils to watch the race.
He said: "Cycling is a real big deal these days and we thought it would be good to go out and see them come past – we are lucky to have it so close.
"It's fantastic we have a close link to cycling at KEGS, we were disappointed that one of our former pupils, Alex Dowsett, couldn't ride this year as we try to support him when he rides.
"It's a great atmosphere down here today – and we enjoyed bring the kids - learning is not all about classroom teaching and we hope they had a good time."
'Legacy'
Officials estimated more than one million people watched as the cyclists rode through Cambridge, Essex and London./
Cllr Ann Naylor, from Essex County Council, said: "The colour and atmosphere to celebrate the Tour has shown the world our fantastic county. The turnout was wonderful with so many people supporting the Tour in Essex.
"Billions have watched the race on TV around the world and can only have been impressed by our idyllic landscape and enthusiastic residents and visitors."
"The fantastic success of the Tour de France in Essex is just another example of how we are able to host world-class sporting events and it is a day the whole county can will look back on for years to come.It was a truly historic day"
Gary Sullivan, Chair of Active Essex, said he believed it would lead to more sporting events taking place in Essex in future
He added: "The Tour also provides us with a great opportunity for a sporting legacy. I believe having the world's best cyclists in Essex will inspire more people to take up the sport and to get active and we now need to encourage and support them to do this.
"It builds on the legacy of the Olympic Mountain Bike Event in Hadleigh in 2012, the Tour of Britain, and the Women's Tour earlier this year.
"I believe it will lead to more major sporting events coming to our county in the future."
Artists
Stage three of the Tour de France began in Cambridge with the riders setting off at 12.15pm before entering Essex 35 minutes later.
Crowds cheered as they entered Saffron Walden where the carnival and big screen on the common provided the backdrop for the celebrations.
Thousands of spectators flocked to Finchingfield to watch the riders pass through one of the most photographed villages in the country, while a procession of artists performing music from around the world welcomed the cyclists and spectators to Wethersfield.
The villages of Felsted and Great Waltham also held a number of events to entertain all age groups.
French rider Bryan Coquard, of Team Europcar, won the sprint section of the stage which had its finish line on Epping High Street, before the riders headed off through Epping Forest and into London where Germany's Marcel Kittell of the Giant Shimano Team claimed the overall stage victory.
In the nearby Admirals Park live music and a huge screen entertained crowds.
![Tour de France 2014: Thousands line the streets of Chelmsford to greet the cyclists]( "Tour de France 2014: Thousands line the streets of Chelmsford to greet the cyclists")
