Taking inspiration from the Tour de France and Olympics in 2012, one Essex businessman decided to buy his own top of the range racing bike, on a par with those the crowds will see race past on Monday.
Ex-bodybuilder Ian Gudgeon, 37, spent nearly £12,000 on the Storck from Chelmer Cycles in Chelmsford.
"If anything I fancied a new bike because of Bradley Wiggins winning a couple of years ago, that got the fever for it going again in me," said Ian, who runs his own printing company.
The world-class bike attracts such a hefty price tag because of its light weight, comfort and capacity for high speeds.
"For someone of my standard its vanity, to be honest. The bike is the same standard as a lot of those in the Tour de France, and I'm the standard of a cyclist who is middle-aged and overweight," added Ian, who cyclestries to get out on the roads around five times a week.
"But it's the same reason as why some people are happy driving a £5,000 car, and others want a £100k Bentley."
Despite his passion for cycling, the Epping businessman admits he may require other forms of transport to get a good spot to view of Monday's race.
"I haven't actually worked out how I'm going to watch it yet. I might have to get the train into London, and then come back into Epping," he said.
