Dusseldorf will host the 2017 Tour de France Grand Depart, organisers ASO revealed today.
Representing the fourth time Germany has hosted the start of cycling’s biggest race, the 104th edition of the Tour will be the 22nd to start outside of France.
The 2015 edition, won by Chris Froome, started in Utrecht and followed the successful Yorkshire Grand Depart the previous year, but next year’s edition starts on French soil at Mont Saint Michel.
London had initially been in the running to bring the Tour back to the UK, but pulled out after it was believed to have beaten bids from Manchester, Edinburgh and several German cities.
Transport for London cited financially viability as the reason for pulling out, and their loss has been Dusseldorf’s gain – with Germany set to host its first Tour stage since 2005.
Full details of the Grand Depart will be unveiled in January, with press conferences scheduled for both Paris and Dusseldorf on January 14.
Belgian rider airlifted to Lille but passed away late on Sunday evening
Small climbs, big impact: riding the crux of La Primavera with former winner Paolo Bettini
Britain's first ever Tour de France champion 'strongly refutes all allegations, which are based on conjecture with no tangible evidence'
Report slams Sir Dave Brailsford for Team Sky's poor medical record keeping and calls for WADA to completely ban corticosteroids
Challenging routes well suited to climbers