The Tour de France comes to town: Photo special

When the Tour de France comes to town, everything stops for the race. Along with the race itself, the Tour consists of a huge mobile carnival, a cavalcade of colour and sound.

Cycling Weekly photographer Andy Jones captured a series of photographs during the 2012 Tour's opening week to give a flavour of the Tour away from the racing.

You can see more of Andy's photographs from the Tour and other events in our gallery section.

Gendarmes' escort motorbikes are just part of the mobile police service that follows the Tour

Arrest that man. George Bush makes an unlikely King of the Mountains

Brit Steve Cummings gets the band back together

Capturing the moment

Vittel man contests the sprint

No wonder he's out of breath - riding the Tour on a BMX

Fans watch the action on the big screen before the race arrives

British designer and bike fan Jeff Banks came along to watch the Tour

Photographers wait on the finish line to get their shot

Bic vehicle in the Tour caravan

Peter Sagan's growing legion of fans

Tejay Van Garderen accepts the white jersey of best young rider on stage five

Mark Cavendish rolls past a group of British fans

The road ahead

Tour de France 2012: Latest news

Wiggins proud of Tour time trial stage win

Wiggins lashes out after doping accusations

Evans and BMC out-gunned by Sky in the mountains

Wiggins looking to keep Tour lead until Paris

Froome on Tour stage win: I had the legs and went for it

Martin to lead Garmin in the mountains as Hesjedal withdraws

Dislocated shoulder hinders Greipel sprint

Hesjedal may be out of Tour after Garmin suffer in crash

Stage seven video preview

The Feed Zone: Tour news round-up (July 5)

Celebrating the Tour's lead-out men

Liquigas's yellow and green jersey aim at Tour

Brailsford: Sky on the front for Cav and Wiggins

Tour de France 2012: Teams, riders, start list

Tour 2012: Who will win?

Tour de France 2012 provisional start list

Tour de France 2012 team list

Tour de France 2012: Stage reports

Stage nine: Wiggins destroys opposition in Besancon TT

Stage eight: Pinot solos to Tour win as Wiggins fights off attacks

Stage seven: Wiggins takes yellow as Froome wins stage

Stage six: Sagan wins third Tour stage

Stage five: Greipel wins again as Cavendish fades

Stage four: Greipel wins stage after Cavendish crashes

Stage three: Sagan runs away with it in Boulogne

Stage two: Cavendish takes 21st Tour stage victory

Stage one: Sagan wins at first attempt

Prologue: Cancellara wins, Wiggins second

Tour de France 2012: Comment, analysis, blogs

Analysis: What we learned at La Planche des Belles Filles

Analysis: How much time could Wiggins gain in Tour's time trials

CW's Tour de France podcasts

Blog: Tour presentation - chasing dreams and autographs

Comment: Cavendish the climber

Tour de France 2012: Photo galleries

Stage nine by Graham Watson

Stage eight by Graham Watson

Stage seven by Graham Watson

Stage six by Graham Watson

Stage five by Graham Watson

Stage four by Graham Watson

Stage three by Graham Watson

Stage two by Andy Jones

Stage two by Graham Watson

Stage one by Graham Watson

Prologue photo gallery by Andy Jones

Prologue photo gallery by Roo Rowler

Prologue photo gallery by Graham Watson

Tour de France 2012: Team presentation

Sky and Rabobank Tour de France recce

Tour de France 2012: Live text coverage

Stage six live coverage

Stage five live coverage

Stage four live coverage

Stage three live coverage

Cycling Weekly's live text coverage schedule

Tour de France 2012: TV schedule

ITV4 live schedule

British Eurosport live schedule

Tour de France 2012: Related links

Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Cavendish

Brief history of the Tour de France

Tour de France 2011: Cycling Weekly's coverage index

1989: The Greatest Tour de France ever