Denmark presented a bid on Monday for Copenhagen to host the start of the Tour de France sometime between '19 and '21, according to the AFP. Tour de France Dir Christian Prudhomme said, "It’s a real challenge. The Tour de France would never have been so far north. We’re going to carry out studies and examine it closely." The Danish delegation outlined a project "that could have three stages -- a time trial in Copenhagen and two flat stages, one from Roskilde to Odense and another from Vejle to Sønderborg." Prudhomme: "Of course there are other candidates but I like this bid in principle, because whatever happens it will help increase the link between everyday cycling and the cycling of champions" (AFP, 6/20). CYCLING NEWS reported for Copenhagen Mayor Frank Jensen, in that role since '10, "the bid would be a celebration of the bicycle and further cement the status of Copenhagen as a cycling city." Jensen said, "Copenhagen is known around the world as a cycling city and the Tour is one of the most liked sporting events among Danes." Previous capital cities to have hosted the Tour's grand depart are Amsterdam, Brussels, Berlin, Luxembourg, London, and Paris. The 2017 Tour de France will start in Düsseldorf, its first German grand depart since West Berlin in '87 (CYCLING NEWS, 6/21).
