Wilier Wow Them at The Tour

Opera singers light up the atmosphere

The public got a chance to see the new Wilier bikes

Police keeping a watchful eye over proceedings

Tony Harris from ATB-Sales, importer of Wilier bikes into the UK, tell us about the Wilier/Lampre team day during the Prologue.

The Tour De France was a Tour de Force for the millions who thronged to London to witness the single most important day ever for cycling in the UK and Wilier were proud to be part of it.

We set up the Lampre Team Headquarters in Whitehall, just a stone's throw from the start of the race and laid on corporate hospitality at Zippi's restaurant for 200 invited guests and our prize winners.

They were wined and dined in true Italian fashion and given a real treat when the Lampre team stopped by to sign posters, caps and jerseys for the fans.

Outside there was pandemonium as around 1,000 people tried to force their way into the restaurant to meet the popular Team. Inside, the flash of cameras was blinding as our guests got up close and personal with the riders.

Then came the piece de resistance - a burst of Italian opera from our three lovely sopranos Emma Baker, Julie Roberts and Elinor Chapman. They treated the guests to three sensuous arias before combining for a lung-bursting rendition of the ever-popular Nessun Dorma. The girls raised the roof!

Our guest of honour was Claudio Salomoni, Wilier Triestina's Area Commerciale and two or three colleagues from the Triestina factory. He was on-hand to oversee the launch of the new Izoard frame for 2008.

The bike was displayed outside the restaurant and attracted so much attention we were given a six-man police guard who kept the crowd moving instead of blocking the pavement trying to get a closer feel of the carbon frame's lightness.

The coppers all entered into the spirit of the day, though. They posed for pictures with the bikes and with the sopranos and happily kept a smile on their faces.

It was the first real summer's day we have had in the UK since the weather went bonkers. And the crowds made the most of the sunshine.

Wilier's partners for the day, letourguide.com and Cycle Surgery all pulled together to make it a memorable event for our invited guests.

See the Wilier range at www.wilierbikes.co.uk