The London Mayor Ken Livingston, Transport for London head Jim Hendy an Tour de France Director Christian Prudhomme, met earlier this week to discuss a possible return for the race to London in the lead up to the 2012 Olympics.
At a press conference that preceded the talks, Ken Livingstone outlined the economic and social successes of the Grand Depart in 2007 – some £70 million pounds was generated and an immediate 10% increase in cycle journeys was noted in the first month post race.
The Mayor also said that money raised from a ‘gas guzzling’ £25 per car congestion charge would be ringed fenced to implement cycle schemes.
Livingstone then remarked that biding for the Grand Depart was a ‘very competive business’ and that London may not seek to hold the Grand Depart but a stage, which would be easier within the 2012 time frame.
Christian Prudhomme said that he had been impressed by the large number of fans, the atmosphere and, jokingly, the weather, and told us that he could see on the riders faces how much they were enjoying the 2007 Grand Depart.
