Yes it is that time of year again and the world's attention turns to cycling and the greatest race in the world - The Tour De France.
After the success of London staging the opening stage last year, Brest had the honours this time round.
For those who don't know, 
Its population had actually increased for the start of the 95th Tour De
On the Thursday evening at 6pm local time, the riders from twenty
teams, competing in this 21 stage, 2187 mile (3500 km) event, were presented to a good proportion of the city's inhabitants braving the showers.
This year sees only two British riders in Team
Cavendishm who said that he was looking forward to the race to us after the introductions and David Millar riding for the Garmin Chipotle team entering the world's great cycle race which has ten flat stages, five mountain stages, four medium mountain stages and two individual time trials. 
Mark Cavendish
The race starts on Saturday with a 197.5km ride to Plumelec. Then it winds it way through
Thursday evening's entertainment started with a procession of carnival floats, complete with all female participants harnessed into their vehicles due to the stringent French Health and Safety regulations, around the town centre.
David Millar's team were the first to be introduced to an appreciative crowd, which I estimate to be around 50,000. Every rider was clapped and cheered as they stood astride their bikes. 
David Millar's team get introduced
When the teams were all introduced, the media and other invited guests and locals who knew exactly where to position themselves had an opportunity to meet some of the riders after the event as everyone looked forward to Saturday's Grand Departe.
The rest of the crowd and media were treated to a bit of bagpipe playing (something of a Breton tradition which has much in common with the Celts) as well as some theatre including a bizarre performance which included three groups of local actors shouting something like "We Hate Leicester" and blocking one of the main roads with a sit down protest.
Oh sit down!
Other musical turns that finally ended around with a Polish covers band who played many 70's and 80's classics including a cracking version of AC/DC's Highway To Hell and Captain Sensible's Wot.
The Polish covers band do their stuff
They were well received by the crowd with people of all ages dancing and enjoying themselves before a female member of the security staff lept on stage at 11.15pm and hauled off a livid band.