Cycling: A few weeks ago it finally became official – the Tour de France 2017 will start in Germany for the fourth time in its history. Today the first information about the Grand Départ 2017 in Düsseldorf became known. As already suspected, an individual time trial through the streets of the Rhine metropolis forms the prelude - before the drivers make their way from Düsseldorf to the still unknown destination on day two.
Cycling fans in this country are still happy about being awarded the Grand Départ in Germany and Düsseldorf 2017. Finally, 30 years after the start in West Berlin in 1987, spectators, riders, officials and all those who have even a little passion for cycling can look forward to the start of the world's largest sporting event 'on their own doorstep' . The decision by organizer ASO can also be understood as an appreciation of the German professionals and their achievements in recent years. The opening words in the press release published today go down like oil:
[quote font_size=”16″ bgcolor=”#” color=”#” bcolor=”#” arrow=”yes”]”Germany has the highest number of victories in the past three editions of the Tour de France. Led by a golden generation of professionals like Tony Martin, André Greipel, Marcel Kittel and John Degenkolb, Germany is poised to add another glorious chapter to the history of the world's greatest cycle race."[/quote]Tour de France 2017: individual time trials at the start – perfect for Tony Martin
On July 1st, 2017, the Grand Boucle 2017 will start in front of the Düsseldorf trade fair: A 13km long individual time trial through Düsseldorf city center awaits the drivers. The route then changes sides of the Rhine with the Oberkasseler Bridge, making a short detour to the district of Oberkassel on the left bank of the Rhine, before the drivers head back towards the city center via the Rheinkniebrücke. Then it goes via the Königsallee past the opera and back to the exhibition center.
The profile of the stage will be made for real time trial specialists like Tony Martin: “This will be a tour that takes place in a completely flat terrain and on big roads. The time trial specialists can exploit their full potential here,” said Thierry Gouvenou from the ASO. Tony Martin with victory in the opening event and in yellow at the start of the tour in Germany - sounds good, doesn't it?
Tour de France 2017: Second stage - first details known
We will have to be patient for the profile and exact dates of the second stage until the route presentation on October 17th - however, the OSA has already published a few appetizers today: The start will again be in Düsseldorf - more precisely on the Burgplatz. The first nine kilometers are neutralized and lead past the Düsseldorf port, among other things. The racing action then finally starts on the Kaiserstraße and on the Grafenberg there are already the first points to be collected in the mountain classification. After a detour to the east, it goes back through the city center and west to the still unknown stage destination.
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