The discussion about international sports mega-events in Berlin has gained new momentum following the withdrawal of the Olympic bid. The possible Grand Départ of the Tour de France 2029 is also increasingly being framed politically. In this article, we explain why a differentiated consideration of both events is important and what special features distinguish the bid for Germany:

No No to the Berlin start of the Tour de France 2029: Why a differentiated approach is important

Following the withdrawal of Berlin's bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the discussion about other major international sporting events in the capital has also become more intense.

Among the triggers of the recent debate were statements by the sports policy spokesperson of the Berlin Left, Claudia Engelmann. In an interview with rbb, she pointed to Berlin’s difficult budgetary situation and asked whether public funds were not needed more urgently for the renovation of existing sports facilities.

Engelmann subsequently clarified her position: she had not explicitly stated a no to a possible start of the Tour in Berlin. What was crucial was rather finding funding for sports events that did not come at the expense of everyday sports infrastructure.

This clarification is important. Of course, it is the task of politics to critically examine the use of public funds in large sporting events, to weigh the costs and benefits, and to reconcile different interests. After the submission of the application, it was also made clear that issues such as financing, sustainability, regional involvement, and long-term effects will be further concretized and constantly discussed throughout the application process. 

Olympics and Grand Départ: different dimensions

The Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Grand Départ of the Tour de France are major sporting events with great international media impact. In their organizational, financial and temporal dimensions, however, they differ significantly from each other. Therefore, a detailed examination of the respective frameworks is necessary.

The time frame is also crucial: According to the current planning, the tour’s opening phase spans three to four stages. For the individual host regions, this means a time-focused presence of the tour – complemented by elements such as a team presentation or a prologue.

An sporting event that reaches out to people

Another distinctive feature of road cycling is its accessibility. A Tour de France stage does not take place exclusively in a stadium or confined arena. The race takes place through city centers, smaller towns, and rural areas. The event thus reaches out to the people. For spectators, the racing action along the course is generally accessible free of charge.

An entire region as the host

The German bid is deliberately designed to encompass several host regions. The Grand Départ 2029 would connect different cities, countries, and very diverse areas. Our ambition is not only to make individual start and finish locations visible, but to lead the Tour through an entire region and to involve as many people, municipalities, and regions as possible along the route.

Wide support for the application

The application is already being supported today by various stakeholders. In addition, there are numerous supporters from the federal government, the states, municipalities, the business sector, and organized sports. This support does not, of course, replace political decisions regarding specific budgetary funds. It does, however, show that the application is not intended to be a stand-alone project.

For this reason, our approach remains to involve as many partners from politics, sport, business and society as possible in the further process.

Dialogue instead of hasty conclusions

The withdrawal of the Berlin Olympic bid has understandably raised questions. However, direct conclusions about the Grand Départ bid cannot be automatically drawn from this. The projects differ in important structural, temporal, and financial aspects.

At the same time, it is right that politics critically examines a possible start of the tour and weighs the financing against the needs of everyday sports.

Our vision of the start of the Tour de France in 2029 – from a country that is obsessed with cycling for just over a week – can only become reality if everyone works together.

#granddepartallemagne #granddepart2029

Berlin, July 29, 2026. German Cycling e.V. has officially submitted the German bid for the Grand Départ of the Tour de France 2029 to the Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.). With the support of the federal government as well as the states of Berlin, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia, the start of the Tour de France in the anniversary year 2029 – 40 years after the Peaceful Revolution and the fall of the Berlin Wall – is to be brought to Berlin and Central Germany.

On the occasion of the official handover of the bid book, high-ranking representatives from politics, sports, business, and diplomacy from Germany and France gathered at the Jakob-Kaiser-Haus of the German Bundestag with A.S.O. General Director Yann Le Moënner and Tour de France Director Christian Prudhomme.

The application is dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Peaceful Revolution and the fall of the Berlin Wall. It combines the history of German unity with Franco-German friendship and offers the opportunity to make this historical connection experienceable internationally, as well as to set sustainable impulses for tourism, economy, society, and cycling in the participating regions. The application was initiated and developed by Grand Départ Allemagne e.V. with the participation of the states of Berlin, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia. German Cycling e.V. submitted it to the Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.) as the official carrier.

Elisabeth Kaiser, Minister of State and Federal Government Commissioner for East Germany, stated:

Further statements:

Bernd Dankowski, President of German Cycling, said: „Today's handover shows what close cooperation between politics, regions, and organized cycling can achieve. A Grand Départ in 2029 offers the chance to sustainably strengthen cycling in Germany – through international visibility, new momentum for our clubs, and the long-term promotion of coming generations.“

Rudolf Scharping, honorary president of German Cycling and board member of Grand Départ Allemagne e.V., explained: „A Grand Départ 2029 would be far more than a sporting event. It offers the opportunity to thank the people who paved the way for freedom and German unity, while at the same time honoring the great cycling tradition, particularly in East Germany. This combination of history, enthusiasm, and future is what makes our bid so special.“

Christian Prudhomme, Director of the Tour de France, stated: „The Tour de France is far more than a sporting event. It makes landscapes, culture, and history visible, connects people, and gives regions the opportunity to present themselves to the world. Forty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, a Grand Départ in Berlin and Central Germany would have extraordinary historical and symbolic significance – for Germany, for Europe, and for German-French friendship.“

Statements by the involved countries:

Kai Wegner, Governing Mayor of Berlin: „Berlin is the sports metropolis in Germany – and already shares a history with the Tour de France: in 1987, the Tour de France rode along the Berlin Wall – a moment perceived worldwide as a symbol of freedom. In 2029, we are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the fall of the Wall and the courageous women and men who brought the Wall down on November 9, 1989. The Tour de France, with a prologue and stages in Berlin, Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony, and Thuringia, is a strong symbol of freedom, peace, and democracy in Europe.“

Michael Kretschmer, Minister-President of the Free State of Saxony: „The joint bid by Berlin, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia is a great opportunity to bring the Grand Départ 2029 to Germany. 40 years after the Peaceful Revolution and the fall of the Berlin Wall, the start of the Tour de France in Germany would be a strong symbol of freedom and a united Europe. The joint bid shows what is possible when we work across state borders on a shared vision. The world's largest cycling race would bring together guests from all over the world while also commemorating the courageous people who took to the streets for freedom and democracy in 1989.“

Sven Schulze, Minister-President of the State of Saxony-Anhalt: „It is important to me that people all over the world see what makes our Saxony-Anhalt special: a strong homeland with a moving history, warm-hearted people, and many special places. Together with Berlin, Saxony, and Thuringia, we want to show how strong the East is when we work together. A Grand Départ of the Tour de France would be a unique opportunity to present our state internationally. Tourism, the economy, and many regions will benefit from this. Above all, however, we are showing that Saxony-Anhalt is cosmopolitan, high-performing, and a great host in the heart of Europe.“

Mario Voigt, Minister President of the Free State of Thuringia: „The Tour de France brings elite sport directly to the people, transforming cities, villages, and landscapes into a stage for millions of spectators worldwide. That lies at the heart of its special fascination. In 2029—40 years after the Peaceful Revolution—a Grand Départ in eastern Germany would also be a powerful symbol of freedom, cohesion, and a united Europe. Thuringia stands ready to host this unique sporting event and to show the international world of cycling what distinguishes the Green Heart of Germany: hospitality, impressive landscapes, a great cycling tradition, and last but not least, the enthusiasm for sports of the people here locally.“

At the awarding of the insignia of Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur to Katja Meier (Member of the Saxon State Parliament) at the French Embassy in Germany on April 29, 2026, it became clear what role personal relationships and political commitment play in German-French cooperation.

Katja Meier has actively shaped this exchange over the years, including with a focus on projects that bring Europe together at the regional level. French Ambassador François Delattre expressly praised this commitment and emphasized the importance of such initiatives for a lived German-French friendship.

This moment is also special for us because Katja Meier early on supported and politically accompanied the idea of a Grand Départ in Central Germany. Together with our board, Dr. Thomas Hofmann and Andreas Prokop, we were able to follow the award ceremony on site.

In her own words, it becomes clear what her core concern is: "Europe needs a strong foundation, especially in times of geopolitical upheaval. Cooperation between Germany, France, and Poland is not about symbolism, but about future viability. Sport can create exactly this closeness – visible, tangible, and unifying. A potential Grand Départ in 2029 would be more than just a sporting event in this context; it would be a symbol of a Europe that thinks ahead together."

Heartfelt congratulations on this award.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged his support for the Grand Départ 2030 e. V.'s bid to host the start of the Tour de France.

In a letter dated October 31, the Chancellor expressly acknowledges the joint initiative of the federal states Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, who want to bring the start of the Tour de France to Central Germany in 2030.

„You are campaigning for the world's biggest cycling tour to start in Saxony for the first time, with subsequent stages in Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. I am happy to pledge my support for this project“, writes Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The support from the Chancellery is regarded as Decisive political backing for the current bid. It gives the project a new scope - both nationally and internationally - and underlines the fact that the idea of the Grand Départ 2030 has long since grown beyond a sporting vision.

„This support is far more than just political backing for us - it is confirmation that we are on the right track with our dream“, says Dr. Thomas Hofmann, Board of the Grand Départ 2030 e. V.

„If the Federal Chancellor is behind this project, it shows that Germany can make history - not just in terms of sport, but as a symbol of what three federal states can achieve together“, supplemented Andreas Prokop, Board of the association.

A Grand Départ 2030 in Central Germany would be an event with enormous appeal - economically, in terms of tourism and socially.
With the backing of the federal government, the joint application will now enter a new phase: as a Joint project between sport, politics and the region, which strengthens cohesion and makes Germany internationally visible.

To the press release

The French Embassy in Berlin was the venue for a special discussion entitled „The Tour de France: a Franco-German adventure“. Christian Prudhomme, journalist and author Stephan Klemm, the cyclist Fabienne Jährig and moderator Prof. Dr. Ulrich Pfeil on each other. The cultural, political and sporting appeal of the Tour de France was impressively demonstrated in front of a packed auditorium. The event was all about Franco-German friendship and the special role that cycling plays in this.

Stephan Klemm's new book reminds us that rides through the GDR were once forbidden - a historical contrast that reinforces the importance of a Grand Départ 2030 in East Germany. On the 40th anniversary of German reunification, the Tour de France could become a unique symbol of unity, peace and democracy. Tour director Christian Prudhomme provided a special tailwind, making it clear that the event would be a great success:

With a charming twinkle in his eye, he also pointed out that a good regional wine is not a disadvantage when choosing stage locations. This is a home advantage for Central Germany, as Saale-Unstrut, the Elbe Valley and the Ilm Valley have long been synonymous with top quality. Support also came from the diplomatic side. The French ambassador François Delattre emphasized the importance of Franco-German cooperation in sport and clearly backed the project.

The evening in Berlin showed: The idea of a Grand Départ 2030 is not only alive - it is inspiring. Central Germany has the sporting terrain, the historical symbolism and, as has now become clear with a wink, also the right wine.