Professional preparations are continuing for a possible Tour de France start in Germany in 2029. The "Grand Départ Allemagne" association, which came up with the idea and took the first important steps towards a bid, is now a member of the German Cycling Association. This means that German Cycling is officially taking over the sponsorship of the bid, and the association is continuing it operationally as an initiative of German Cycling. The states of Berlin, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia are currently exploring the possibilities and scope of participation.
"The bid was closely linked to German cycling from the very beginning. With German Cycling as the sponsor, we have the set-up that a project of this size needs. We bring experience, a well-coordinated team and a clear goal: to bring the Grand Départ to Germany in 2029
and to set a sporting and social example," said Thomas Hofmann, Chairman of Grand Départ Allemagne and President of the Saxon Cycling Federation.
The bid for 2029 comes in a historically charged year: Forty years after the Peaceful Revolution and the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Grand Départ is intended to set an example for a united Europe, supported by the values that also underpin sport. With stages in Berlin, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, the role of East Germany in reunification is to be honored.
