If you’re based in England and always wanted to strain your neck watching the cyclists in the world’s most famous bike race whipping by you, this is your lucky year. Each year the first leg of the Tour de France starts in a different location, either in France or another country. This year, it’s coming to London and Kent, with Saturday, July 7 as the big kickoff and prologue to the race.

If you’ve been mulling over the possibility of catching the Tour but are put off by the high cost of hotels or B&Bs in England, check out www.tourdefrancelondon.com and see the section titled Camping and Caravans, which offers a list of campsites where you can pitch a tent in Greater London and Kent. If you’d prefer to stay in a hotel, Visit London, the official Web site for London, can take you to a room booking engine showing availability of accommodation on July 7 starting at 29 pounds per person.

If you’re in the Benelux, you might find it more convenient to catch the tour as it passes by Torhout or Aarsele, Belgium. Stage 3, on July 10, will start in Waregem, Belgium, and marks the longest stage of this year’s race. Visit the official Tour De France Web site for a look at the complete route and description of the various stages.