Pupils got all “cycled up” when the Tour de France Grand Départ trophy arrived in the school playground.

Some 350 children from six schools in London’s East End were invited to a special children’s cycling day arranged by Tower Hamlets Council.

They took part in the Rollapulluza static bikes time contest at Bethnal Green’s Hague Primary organised by the Bikeworks not-for-profit organisation and had a visit from ‘Dr Bike’, as well as a display of BMX and tricycles, recumbent, and other fun bikes to try out.

But the star attraction was the Tour de France Grand Départ trophy, which is currently on show touring the British leg of the race due to be held in July.

“The children were excited to see the trophy and learn more about the Tour de France,” said Hague Primary’s headteacher Judy Coles. “They were enthusiastic about the cycling activities. We promote cycling safety to pupils and their families as a school.”

Primary schools taking part in the ‘Big Bike’ event at Hague Primary included Whitechapel’s Thomas Buxton, Bow Common’s Stebon, Bethnal Green’s Virginia Primary and Oaklands Secondary as well as Canary Wharf College.

Tower Hamlets plays host to the Tour de France ‘Grand Départ’ through the East End on July 7. ‘Le Grand Départ’ starts in Yorkshire on July 5. The next stage on July 7 starts in Cambridge, passing through Essex and east London on the A13 and the Limehouse Link Tunnel, along The Highway to Tower Hill, finishing in The Mall at the gates of Buckingham Palace, before it heads off to France.