Düsseldorf presented itself as host to the Grand Départ at the international press conference in Paris

At an internationally acknowledged Tour de France-news conference in Paris on Tuesday afternoon, Director Christian Prudhomme announced the route of the 104th Tour de France. As has already been clear since last December, the Tour starts on the July 1st, 2017 with the Grand Départ in Düsseldorf. The most important cycling race in the world will begin with an individual time trial over 13 kilometers through the Düsseldorf city center on July 1st, 2017.

Düsseldorf will also see the start of the second stage. After a circuit through the nearby towns of Erkrath, Mettmann and Ratingen, the route passes through Düsseldorf again, a novelty in the history of the Tour de France. For the first time, the "Great Loop" leads the cyclists out of the city where the race begins and back again. Following that, the route of the second stage leads through Meerbusch, Neuss and Kaarst-Büttgen to Moenchengladbach. Here, the first intermediate sprint points of the 2017 Tour will be awarded. . Cycling through the Düren district with its city of Jülich, the pro cyclists will then ride into the Cathedral City of Aachen. This is the last German city in this stage which ends 206 kilometers further on in the Belgian city of Liège.

In a comment, Mayor Thomas Geisel said: "The route is now settled and the excitement surrounding the 104th Tour de France continues to rise. I would like to congratulate all those cities and towns that are part of the world's biggest cycling event, and I am sure that we in Düsseldorf as well as the entire region will enjoy a fantastic cycling spectacle, celebrating the friendship between Germany and France."

People in the region are also delighted. The Mayor of the sprint race city Mönchengladbach, Michael Schroeren, traveled to Paris as well on the occasion and was very enthusiastic: "The Grand Départ is a great opportunity for the sport enthusiasts of the city of Mönchengladbach, the region, and the sporting nation of Germany - also in view of the global media presence. The sprint race will certainly enhance the image of the sports city that Mönchengladbach is."

In his presentation of the state capital Düsseldorf as host to the Grand Départ 2017, Mayor Thomas Geisel told the approximately 4,000 journalists present: "30 years after the start of the tour in the still divided Berlin in 1987, the largest cycling race in the world will start again in Germany. The Tour de France organizers could have found no better place for this than Düsseldorf - a sport-loving city, a cycling city, and a hospitable city. Our trade fair "Messe Düsseldorf" welcomes millions of visitors every year. And millions of visitors arrive annually to visit the large traditional events in Düsseldorf, such as the carnival parade on Rose Monday, the Japan Day or the France Festival. More than 3,000 of your fellow French citizens as well as 257 French companies contribute to the unmistakable lifestyle and savoir-vivre in Düsseldorf, which has given the city its nickname 'Little Paris'. Enjoy the Grand Départ of the Tour de France 2017! Enjoy Düsseldorf!"

Image film for the Grand Départ Düsseldorf 2017

Following his speech, the Mayor presented the image film, shot by Düsseldorf Marketing & Tourismus GmbH especially for the route presentation, which also can be viewed at www.duesseldorf.de/letour.

Reunion with project class members Düsseldorf's French School

During the event, Mayor Thomas Geisel took the opportunity to meet with the project class members from the Lycée Français, who are currently focusing on the Grand Départ as a school project. The Mayor had already visited the students last Tuesday and wished them a good class trip to Paris, which included the participation in the conference.

Exchange with participating municipalities from North Rhine-Westphalia

Mayor Geisel also met with some representatives of the North Rhine-Westphalia municipalities through which the Tour de France 2017 route will pass. Mayor Angelika Mielke-Westlage from Meerbusch and her colleague Dr. Ulrike Nienhaus from Kaarst, District Administrator Wolfgang Spelthahn from the district of Düren and Mayor Schroeren from Mönchengladbach all traveled to Paris to receive the good news that their cities will take special part in the event in July.