BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
London is vying to host the Grand Depart of the 2017 Tour De france, according to the Standard.
Understood to have been championed by outgoing Transport chief Peter Hendy and TfL roads boss Leon Daniels, it is believed that talks are already underway with race organisers the Amaury Sport Organisation.
Tour de France commentator Ned Boulting told 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.”
There are, however, already concerns about how the Depart will be funded, as well as suggestions that the cash would be better spent on improving the infrastructure for cycling safely roads.
Earlier this year Portsmouth also outlined its vision to host a stage of the 2018 Tour.
Last year’s Tour de France was worth in excess of £130 million to the UK economy. 18.6million people followed the race on television or on other devices in the UK.
