{"id":344403,"date":"2025-08-14T17:27:26","date_gmt":"2025-08-14T17:27:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/344403\/"},"modified":"2025-08-14T17:27:26","modified_gmt":"2025-08-14T17:27:26","slug":"grand-departs-the-countries-looking-to-host-the-tour-de-france","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/344403\/","title":{"rendered":"Grand D\u00e9parts: The countries looking to host the Tour de France"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s no bigger honour in cycling than hosting the Tour de France\u2019s Grand D\u00e9part. Since it first travelled abroad in the 1950s<\/a>, the Tour de France has started abroad on 26 occasions, visiting Ireland, Great Britain, Italy and a divided Germany along the way.<\/p>\n

This tradition has only picked up in recent decades, in part due to the big financial returns for both host nations and the Tour itself. In 2026, the Tour de France will visit Catalonia<\/a>, with three stages scheduled around the regional capital Barcelona. The following year, it\u2019ll be the turn of the UK to unpack its yellow bunting, with three days of racing promised in Great Britain<\/a>, starting from the race\u2019s most northerly point to date: Edinburgh. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s clear that the Tour de France is more open to breaking its French mould more often, with all but one Grand D\u00e9part handed overseas since borders reopened after the pandemic. Race organisers ASO have also tested out new locations during this time, with a long transfer to Denmark in 2022, a first start in Italy in 2024 and a Scottish Grand D\u00e9part in 2027. Perhaps spurred on by the Giro\u2019s more adventurous Grande Partenza locations, more foreign starts seem to be in the works, this time further afield.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve dug through all the Grand D\u00e9part speculation, bid books and announcements to unveil the list of countries vying to host the world\u2019s biggest bike race over the coming years.<\/p>\n

Related questions you can explore with Ask Cyclist, our AI search engine.If you would like to ask your own question you just need to , or subscribe<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Czechia<\/p>\n

\"\"Czech Tour<\/p>\n

Back in June, the Czech press revealed that a \u2018working group has been established to deal with the conditions and circumstances of organising the Grand D\u00e9part\u2019. Headed up by the chairman of the Czech national sports agency Ond\u0159ej \u0160ebek, the committee has already been in discussions with major players at ASO to discuss the possibility of visiting Czechia in the next five to ten years.<\/p>\n

\u2018We recently had a meeting attended by the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, the Mayor of Prague, the Governor of the South Bohemian Region Martin Kuba, a representative of the union and the director of the Tour de France Christian Prudhomme,\u2019 \u0160ebek told state broadcaster \u010cesk\u00e1 televize<\/a>. \u2018We presented our interest and our experience with organising. Christian Prudhomme then told us that it was necessary to form a group that would have a mandate to act.\u2019 <\/p>\n

Several big names in the Czech cycling scene are said to be involved, including former pro Roman Kreuziger, the boss of L\u2019\u00c9tape Czech Republic P\u0159emysl Nov\u00e1k and the president of the national cycling federation Robert Kol\u00e1\u0159. Together, they have until October 2026 to formulate a complete bid to address logistical and financial conditions for ASO. Nov\u00e1k, who has lobbied for a Czech Grand D\u00e9part since 2024<\/a>, cites 2029 and 2031 as targets as he believes the Tour will start in France in 2028 due to the Olympic Games in LA later that summer.<\/p>\n

While Czechia has never hosted a Grand Tour before, the central European nation has been producing top-level pros since the breakup of Czechoslovakia. In talks with ASO at the Italian Grand D\u00e9part last summer, Nov\u00e1k said that Prudhomme \u2018likes the fact that it could be the first post-communist country where the Grand D\u00e9part will take place. And for them too, it opens up a large market that could be interesting for them.\u2019<\/p>\n

\"Cyclist<\/a><\/p>\n

What would the route look like?<\/p>\n

\"\"Czech Tour<\/p>\n

Given that the mayor of Prague has accepted his invitation to the organising committee, a start in Prague is likely. From there, those involved seem to believe that the race will move southwards, through the South Bohemia region. The governor of the province told \u010cesk\u00e1 televize<\/a>, ‘I have the feeling from the meeting that ASO sees it as ideal to start in Prague and then move south, ideally in nice hills, so that attractive drone footage can be created.’<\/p>\n

Prague would be a major touristic draw for the race, providing a recognisable backdrop for the race’s opening day and team presentation. The capital is also willing to test the waters with pro bike racing, acting as the start location of this year’s Czech Tour. Furthermore, the landscape of South Bohemia could also make for some exciting racing, complemented by scenic spots like \u010cesk\u00fd Krumlov and Hlubok\u00e1 Castle.<\/p>\n