Could London be the host venue for the Grand Depart of the Tour De France in 2017?
The London Standard have said that Transport for London bosses are reportedly in discussions with organisers A.S.O. about hosting the start of the 2017 race.
London, successfully, hosted a Grand Depart in 2007 and a prologue which saw Fabian Cancellera come flying home to victory watched by more than a million people on the road and also hosted the third stage of the race in 2014, which attracted massive crowds as it made its way to the finish line down the Mall.
Five German cities are also cited as being interested but ITV4 commentator Ned Boulting said to the Standard: “The ASO are not focusing on the UK for no reason. They know we are the biggest growth market for cycling.
“The 2007 Grand Depart was a big event but it had no impact on the wider sporting public or national consciousness — it was just something that the cycling community celebrated. But 2017 would be a colossal national event like we saw in Yorkshire last year.”