Tour kick-off 2030 in the east? Route planner knows nothing

A cycling initiative is campaigning for the Tour de France 2030 to start in eastern Germany. But how realistic is a Grand Départ in this country for the first time after Düsseldorf in 2017? While some are already euphorically hopeful, the plans don't seem to have quite reached the Tour organizers at ASO yet.

"This is the first time I've heard this from you," Tour route planner Thierry Gouvenou told "Die Zeit" after being asked about the plan. There are currently 250 to 300 applications to be part of the Tour in general, reported the ex-professional cyclist.

Denk: "I would be delighted"

2030 marks the 40th anniversary of German reunification. For this reason, the specially founded association "Grand Départ Allemagne" made the idea public after the Federal General Assembly of German Cycling (formerly the Association of German Cyclists). Most recently, politicians in the Saxon state parliament welcomed the plans. In April, it was announced that the next step would be to present the project to the ASO.

The project has been well received. "I would be delighted if we could bring such major events to Germany," Ralph Denk told the German Press Agency. According to the team boss of the Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe racing team, there are far too few such events in this country. Former time trial world champion Tony Martin also welcomed the plan: "This could give a boost and be a strong impulse for German cycling," the Cottbus native told Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (rbb).

Association President Dankowski: "One of the biggest cycling nations"

"We have to work at all levels to make something like this possible again," said Bernd Dankowski, President of German Cycling, to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. He sometimes has the impression that the bigger the event, the easier it gets. "We are qualified by the fact that we are one of the biggest cycling nations. The sport has regained popularity here after the difficult phases that lie behind us," Dankowski continued. However, the financial viability must be given, he said.

Because there is a lot of money involved. The ASO requires 100,000 euros from a start venue and 130,000 euros from a finish venue, explained route planner Gouvenou. However, the Grand Départ is much more expensive, also because of the many security precautions, which cost around 4.5 million euros. In addition, there are further financial expenses for the cities. The association anticipates costs of around 20 million euros, but expects high revenues for the regions of 150 to 200 million euros, it said in April.

Time trial from Halle to Leipzig

The plans are already quite concrete: the first stage could lead from Dresden to Gera with the steep wall of Meerane. One idea for the second stage is a time trial from Halle to Leipzig. A third stage could lead from Erfurt to Magdeburg.

Past Grand Départs abroad have taken place in Denmark, Spain and Italy. In 2026, the 113th Tour will begin in Spain with the opening stage in Barcelona, followed by the start in Edinburgh, Scotland.