Grand Départ in the East - Scharping: Application Submitted

The bid to host the start of the 2029 Tour de France in eastern Germany has been officially submitted. Former Defense Minister Rudolf Scharping, a member of the executive board of the German bid committee, confirmed this on the sidelines of the second stage of the Tour in Barcelona. “The bid has been submitted. It also involves Berlin, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia. It’s a huge opportunity to tell the story of freedom and the fall of the Wall,” Scharping told ARD.

The bid by the association “Grand Départ Allemagne”—a member of the German Cycling Federation—has historical significance: 40 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the organizers plan for the start of the world’s largest cycling race to serve as a symbol of a united Europe. Christian Prudhomme, director of the Tour de France, had expressed openness to the possibility of a Tour start in eastern Germany.

Will everything be settled by the end of the year?

Regarding funding, Scharping hopes to involve the federal government as well as the affected states. “I think we should have everything settled by the end of the year, because the Tour de France will eventually announce the Grand Départ for 2029; it has to. It’s also negotiating with others,” Scharping emphasized.

The long-time cycling federation president named Slovenia and the Czech capital, Prague, as competitors for hosting the event. “The competitors are strong, but we are even stronger and more optimistic,” said Scharping.