Application for the Grand Départ 2029 officially submitted!
Another big milestone has been reached.
As of June 30, 2026, under the sponsorship of German Cycling e.V., we have submitted the official application to host the start of the Tour de France 2029. Together with the states of Berlin, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia, a so-called “Bidbook” was created and handed over to A.S.O. (Tour organizer).
During the Grand Départ in Barcelona, our club president Rudolf Scharping was asked about the current status of our application:
Yes, the application has been submitted. It's about Berlin, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia. A huge opportunity to tell the story of freedom and the fall of the Wall!”
Forty years after the fall of the Wall, this creates a grand symbolic and iconic image for a sporting event of this magnitude. In recent months, intensive work has been done on the content of the bid in collaboration with the participating countries. This involved addressing key questions regarding the sporting, organizational, financial, and societal implementation of a Tour start.
With the submission of the bid book, an important milestone has been reached. At the same time, the work continues: Key topics such as financing, sustainability, regional integration, and potential long-term effects will be further refined by the end of the application phase.
Sustainability in Focus
The application includes not only the concept for the 2029 Tour start. It also looks beyond that: How can the momentum of a Tour de France be maintained in the region? How can cycling clubs, existing events, tourism offerings, and local residents be involved? And how can a Grand Départ have a long-term impact – for cycling and for the region.
It is now expected that the Grand Départ 2029 will be announced by A.S.O. by the turn of the year. The suspense remains!
Thank you
Special thanks go to the national umbrella organization of German cycling, German Cycling e.V., which has taken on the official sponsorship of the bid.
In addition, we thank all participating countries, ministries, supporters, and companions who are making this journey possible.
