On the difficult road to a hoped-for Tour de France start in East Germany in 2030, the organizers have overcome a first hurdle. As co-initiator Andreas Prokop told the German Press Agency, a first meeting with Christian Prudhomme, the sporting director of Tour de France organizer Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), took place during this year's Tour of France. "It was an initial meeting to give our bid a face," said Prokop.
ASO reacted positively
The ASO also responded very positively to the German proposal after reviewing the initial documents. "Germany is a very important market for the ASO, which also organizes the Tour of Germany, it was made clear to us once again," said Prokop and emphasized that it was clear during the meeting that a German bid would be given a good chance.
Rudolf Scharping, Honorary President of German Cycling, and Thomas Hofmann, President of the Saxon Cycling Federation, were among those who took part in the meeting from the German side. "The next step will now be a visit to Paris to discuss the bid and clarify what form it should take," said Prokop.
Three federal states to get stage venues
In the background, detailed discussions are underway in the participating federal states of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia in order to be prepared. The first sponsors have also already been found to help finance the first steps. This year, the aim is to clarify what the bid must look like.
In the 40th year of German reunification, the Tour de France is to be launched with three stages, also with a view to a common European future. The first stage could lead from Dresden to Gera via the Erzgebirge region with the legendary Steep Wall of Meerane as a symbolic location of the former peace ride. One idea for the second stage is a time trial from Halle to Leipzig. A third stage could lead from Erfurt to Magdeburg.
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