The 99th Tour de France cycling race began on July 1, as 22 teams of nine riders raced first through parts of Belgium, then on to France in stage three. Switzerland's Fabian Cancellara held the overall lead until stage six, when Team Sky rider Bradley Wiggins overtook Cancellara, gaining the leader's yellow jersey, which he still wears as of today. The Tour continues until July 22, heading into the Alps for grueling mountain stages in the second half of the race. The entire tour will cover a distance of 3,497 km (2,173 mi). Gathered here are images from the first half of the 2012 Tour de France. Part 2 will be posted after the finish. (Update: See part 2 here.)
The 2012 Tour de France, Part 1 of 2
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The wheel of a bicycle of France's Europcar cycling team prior to the start of a training session around Liege, Belgium, on June 29, 2012, the eve of the start of the 2012 Tour de France. #
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The pack passes Ouffet under a menacing sky during the first stage of the Tour de France over 198 kilometers (123 miles) finishing in Seraing, Belgium, on July 1, 2012. #
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Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, and Edvald Boasson Hagen of Norway, rear left in white jersey, try to catch Peter Sagan of Slovakia, right, as he sprints towards the finish line to win the first stage of the Tour de France in Seraing, Belgium, on July 1, 2012. #
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Mark Cavendish of Britain, right with yellow helmet, pushes for the finish line alongside Andre Greipel of Germany, left, on the second stage of the Tour de France in Tournai, Belgium, on July 2, 2012. #
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Mark Cavendish of Britain, rear right with yellow helmet, pushes his bicycle over the finish line just ahead of Andre Greipel of Germany, front, and Matthew Harley Gross of Australia, rear left, to win the 207.5 km (129 mi) second stage of the Tour de France in Tournai, Belgium, on July 2, 2012. #
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Yukiya Arashiro of Japan passes over a bridge in Dieppe during the fourth stage of the Tour de France, on July 4, 2012. Arashiro was awarded the most combative rider of the stage. #
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Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, rides in the pack during the third stage of the Tour de France, on his way to Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, on July 3, 2012. #
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Michael Morkov of Denmark wears the best climber's polka-dot jersey on the podium of the third stage of the Tour de France in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, on July 3, 2012. #
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Radioshack-Nissan rider and leader's yellow jersey Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland awaits the start of the fourth stage of the 99th Tour de France in Abbeville, on July 4, 2012. #
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Injured Thomas Danielson of the US sits in the grass after a crash in the pack at some 20 kilometers from he finish line during the sixth stage of the Tour de France near Metz, on Friday July 6, 2012. #
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Peter Sagan of Slovakia, wearing the best sprinter's green jersey, crosses the finish line ahead of Andre Greipel of Germany, right, and Matthew Harley Goss of Australia, left, to win the sixth stage of the Tour de France in Metz, on July 6, 2012. #
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Christopher Froome (right) of Great Britain riding for Sky Procycling takes a look back at Cadel Evans of Australia riding for BMC Racing as Froome sprinted to the finish line to win stage seven of the 2012 Tour de France in La Planche des Belles Filles, on July 7, 2012. Evans finished second. #
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Bradley Wiggins of Great Britain and SKY Procycling rides up the final climb, on his way to taking the yellow jersey during stage seven of the 2012 Tour de France from Tomblaine to La Planche des Belles Filles, on July 7, 2012. #
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New best climber's polka dot jersey winner, Sweden's Frederik Kessiakoff, climbs at the end of the 157.5 km eighth stage of the 2012 Tour de France, heading toward Porrentruy, Switzerland, on July 8, 2012. #
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Bradley Wiggins of Britain, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, Ryder Hesjedal of Canada, wearing the best young rider's white jersey, and Christopher Froome of Britain, wearing the best climber's dotted jersey, ride in the pack during the start of the 8th stage of the Tour de France in Belfort, France, on July 8, 2012. #
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The legs of Astana Pro Team rider Fredrik Kessiakoff of Sweden, seen on the podium flanked by presenters, after the eighth stage of the Tour de France in Porrentruy, , Switzerland, on July 8, 2012. #
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Christopher Froome of Britain concentrates prior to the start of the 9th stage of the Tour de France, an individual time trial over 41.5 kilometers (25.8 miles) starting in Arc-et-Senans and finishing in Besancon, France, on July 9, 2012. #
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Bradley Wiggins, stage winner and overall leader, celebrates on the podium at the end of the individual time-trial ninth stage of the 2012 Tour de France, on July 9, 2012. #
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