Three countries, around 500 kilometers and countless encounters along the route: The European Peace Ride 2026 once again showed what a unifying force cycling can develop. For us at Grand Départ Allemagne e.V., the three days were therefore much more than just a sporting experience.

A big thank you goes first and foremost to Kai Winkler and the entire organization team of the European Peace Ride. With a lot of passion, great commitment and a strong supporting program, a new format has emerged that brings people together across borders and deeply embeds cycling in the region.

A special moment awaited us at the legendary Steile wall of Meerane. There, we were greeted by a large banner with the words:

„Bienvenue Grand Départ 2029 – Your Montmartre, our steep wall.“

A strong and at the same time charming message that we were very pleased with. The lettering of „That’s how it’s done in Saxony.“ It was a beautiful sign for us of how much cycling enthusiasm and support our project in the region is already experiencing.

We were subsequently awarded a special honor at the Meerane town hall. At the invitation of the mayor Jörg Schmeißer We were allowed to go into the Golden Book of the City of Meerane Register. A moment that will remain in our memories and at the same time shows the importance of cycling in the communities along the route.

The discussions surrounding the EPR have also given us a lot of encouragement. Our special thanks go to Katja Meier, member of the Saxon State Parliament, for their energy, their interest and the open exchange, as well as Alexander Dierks, President of the Saxon State Parliament, For his great support and the constructive discussions surrounding our application.

What we take away from these days is the enormous enthusiasm for cycling in the region. Along the route, in the cities and municipalities, and in many personal conversations, we have heard a lot of support for our application to host a Grand Départ of the Tour de France in Central Germany and Berlin.

#granddepartallemagne #granddepart2029

Photo Copyright: Brand Spiders GmbH / EPR 2026

The application to host the Tour de France 2029 in Berlin and Central Germany is not a simple matter of clicking your fingers; it is much more of a developing, increasingly complex process. Likewise, the ever-growing interest in our project is a natural progression. With this knowledge, we have considered which channels we want to target during this phase of the application process. In addition to our activities on Instagram and LinkedIn, we have decided to send out a monthly newsletter. The first issue is entirely dedicated to the announcement of the hosting of the Grand Départ in Berlin and the great photos in front of the Brandenburg Gate. In each issue, we also briefly talk with supporters and supporters about the Grand Départ 2029. "Stage" 2 of the newsletter will be sent on September 15th - those who missed the first issue can register for it here on our website free of charge and without obligation and will receive the issue delivered to them.

Anyone who reads the newsletter carefully will eventually notice that we have integrated a fundraising appeal. With each donation, you can support our work on our project and contribute to the start of the tour right at our doorstep.

Alléz, Alléz

Your GDA team

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: 

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.

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!

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. 

In early July, we met with Elisabeth Kaiser, the Federal Government Commissioner for Eastern Germany, in Berlin. We spoke with her about the idea of bringing the Tour de France 2029 to Germany – and about the special story Berlin and Central Germany could tell as potential host regions.

The focus of the exchange was the vision of a possible Grand Départ of the Tour de France in Germany in 2029 and the opportunities such an event could present for Berlin and Central Germany.

As a native of Gera, Elisabeth Kaiser emphasized the importance of the Tour de France as one of the world's biggest sporting events. At the same time, she highlighted how well a possible Tour start could be combined with the goal of making the development and progress of Eastern Germany visible internationally.

The more we appreciate your support for our submitted application and the project. She herself says:

Thank you for the open and constructive exchange. Together, we will continue to work on a vision that can extend far beyond cycling.

Grand Départ Germany e. V. has joined its national cycling federation, German Cycling, as a member. With this, German Cycling officially assumes responsibility for the bid.

For us, this step is of central importance: The bid will thereby be firmly anchored in organized German cycling and will receive a structure commensurate with the size and significance of a potential Grand Départ in Germany.

Since the beginning of 2025, we have been advancing the bid. Under the leadership of Dr. Thomas Hofmann and Andreas Prokop, the association is responsible for the strategic, communicative, and operational work of the bid. This includes ongoing exchange with federal states, municipalities, and partners from sports, business, and politics.

The states of Berlin, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia are currently exploring the possibilities and extent of their participation.

By joining German Cycling, the collaboration that has existed since the club's founding will now be brought together and formalized. For the bid, this means that the operational initiative of Grand Départ Allemagne and the sports expertise of German Cycling will work together under one roof from now on.

The application for 2029 falls in a historically charged year. Forty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, a Grand Départ in Germany should not only be a major sporting event but also a symbol for a united Europe – underpinned by values that also shape sports.

Dr. Thomas Hofmann, Chairman of Grand Départ Germany e. V. and President of the Saxon Cycling Federation, says: „The bid has been closely linked with German cycling from the very beginning. With German Cycling as the carrier, we have the structure that a project of this size requires. We bring experience, a well-coordinated team, and a clear goal: to bring the Grand Départ 2029 to Germany and thereby send a sporting and societal signal."

Rudolf Scharping, Honorary President of German Cycling and Board Member of Grand Départ Allemagne e. V., added: „The Tour de France is the biggest showcase for our sport. Forty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Peaceful Revolution, and 240 years after the French Revolution, a Grand Départ in Germany would be far more than a major sporting event – it would stand for freedom, European unity, and the connecting power of sport. With Grand Départ Allemagne under the umbrella of German Cycling, a team is ready to take responsibility and make more of the application than just an event: an impulse for cycling throughout Germany.“

Bernd Dankowski, President of German Cycling, says:

With the official endorsement by German Cycling, the bid is entering a new phase. Grand Départ Allemagne will remain the operative unit of the bid and will continue to drive the process forward together with German Cycling.

The goal remains clear: to bring the Grand Départ of the 2029 Tour de France to Central Germany.

With their joint declaration, the three states have sent out a strong signal: Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia stand united behind the bid for the Grand Départ 2030. The voices of their political leaders show how closely sporting vision, European friendship and regional strength are linked.

Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer emphasized the special historical dimension of the application in his statement. He recalled that the reunification of Germany would hardly have been conceivable without the support of France and focused on Franco-German friendship as the foundation of the European project. A Grand Départ in Central Germany could make this bond visible and at the same time send a strong signal for cohesion in Europe.

Thuringia Prime Minister Prof. Dr. Mario Voigt emphasized the role of Central Germany as the „heart region of Germany“. He passionately promoted the fact that the region is more than ready to host the heart of international cycling. For him, one thing is certain: the people of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia not only want to be hosts, but also bridge builders between tradition and modernity, between regional identity and global attention.

From Saxony-Anhalt Economics and Tourism Minister Sven Schulze the feasibility of the project. He emphasized the importance of a Grand Départ for the entire tourism industry in the region - from hotels and restaurants to cultural offerings. At the same time, he made it clear that the three federal states are working in close coordination to meet the organizational requirements and successfully put Central Germany in the international spotlight.