Düsseldorf 2017 – Explore the 1st Stage Now, Thanks to Virtual Reality

The promotion stand for the “Grand Depart Düsseldorf 2017,” featuring virtual “Tour test rides” along with the overarching “Düsseldorf 2017” logo, was introduced today at the Triathlon Messe center on Bürgerwiese – as announced in the last meeting of the small commission.

Mayor Thomas Geisel, City Manager Burkhard Hintzsche and Councilor Günter Karen-Jungen, Chair of the small commission on the Grand Départ, took the opportunity to ride part of the 1st stage of the Tour de France Start 2017 in the red-and-white double tent (41 square meters) of the Grand Départ roadshow - complete with racing bikes and virtual reality goggles. The attraction features a 360-degree panorama, a chasing pack and fans to simulate wind. In addition, a large TV display gives viewers a look at the highlights of the 1st stage.

The virtual ride covers the 13 kilometers of the 1st stage, from the start / finish area at Messe Düsseldorf over Oberkasseler Bridge to the Kaiser-Wilhem-Ring, past the State Parliament building and Media Harbour. The course continues to the 'Kö' and up Heinrich-Heine-Allee toward the Tonhalle, then back to the Messe center, the same route the Tour de France riders will be taking on July 1, 2017, for their individual time trials.

The virtual reality film was created by Düsseldorf-based agency "A4VR - The Agency for Virtual Reality," using a VR helmet cam. Footage was recorded by the La Bici team, headed by Sven Teutenberg, Event Director for the Grand Départ Düsseldorf 2017.

In the next few months, the promotion stand can be found at the 'Radaktiv' cycling day, the 'Frankreichfest' festival, the 'Radnacht', NRW Day and the season opening of Fortuna Düsseldorf.
"With the promotion stand for the Grand Départ 2017, we are not only advertising the world's largest cycling event, which we expect to bring more than one million visitors to Düsseldorf, but are also using virtual reality to give people a real Grand Départ feeling," says Mayor Thomas Geisel, expressing enthusiasm after his test ride.

Also featured at the promotion stand: the additional "Düsseldorf 2017" logo using the same design as the official logo for the Grand Départ Düsseldorf 2017. It provides a consistent look for every sporting event (start of the Tour de France, table tennis world championships, European triathlon championships) and also combines all of the activities and events surrounding the Grand Départ. Last but not least, the Düsseldorf 2017 logo, with a website and Facebook page coming soon, will offer special usage-rights and advertising opportunities for local partners.

Frank Schrader, CEO of Düsseldorf Marketing, which developed the logo and designed the campaign, says, "The logo and the entire look show not only the dynamic nature of our major sporting events in the next year, but also the dynamic nature of the entire city."