Team presentation is the first highlight of the Grand Départ 2017

The team presentation on 29 June 2017 is the first highlight of the Grand Départ Düsseldorf 2017. The 198 professional cyclists will be welcomed to the state capital and accompanied onto the stage at Burgplatz by some of Düsseldorf’s great personalities such as Heinrich Heine, Clara and Robert Schumann and Joseph Beuys. However, whereas Düsseldorf’s celebrities are portrayed by so-termed “living sculptures”, i.e. actors, the nine cyclists of each of the 22 teams will appear in person, and introduce themselves on the stage at the Schlossturm (castle tower).

The team presentation will be opened at 6 pm with the European anthem sung by about 80 children from Singpause and the tenor Sascha Dücker. The programme will be supplemented by performances by bicycle artists, dance groups from tanzhaus nrw and the band Fresh Music Live.

Interviews with the team captains
At 6.30 pm, the introduction of the Tour participants is set to start. Through interviews with the team captains and other cyclists, the spectators will find out details about the teams and get an insight into their chances in the Grand Tour.

After the introduction on stage, the teams ride from Burgplatz to Marktplatz, through Rheinstraße and then along Rheinufer to Johannes-Rau-Platz to greet the fans in Düsseldorf. At Marktplatz, Grabbeplatz, Johannes-Rau-Platz and Kö-Bogen, spectators can follow the team presentation live on LED screens. The Rheinufer is also a good place to view from, as the cyclists can be seen along here, and the sports area of the Bundeswehr provides for additional entertainment. What’s more, catering stands will be set up. The programme of the team presentation will last until about 8 pm.

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