The Tour de France, which started in Rotterdam in 2010, could be returning to the Netherlands within two years, with the 102nd edition of the race in 2015 rumoured to be starting in the city of Utrecht. Milan has also expressed an intesrets in hosting the race.
If either bid is confirmed as successful, it would mean a second successive foreign Grand Départ for the race, which starts in Yorkshire next summer, breaking with the convention that the race only starts outside France every two or three years.
Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad claims that Tour organisers ASO have already agreed to award the start of the race in 2015 to Utrecht, although the article raises concerns over how the estimated €10 million cost of staging the Grand Départ will be met.
As Tour de France route-watcher Thomas Vergouwen points out on his Velowire website, Utrecht missed out in 2010 because it was considered to be too far from Brussels, where organisers ASO wanted to have a stage finish.
However, he adds that the city has kept in touch with race director Christian Prudhomme regarding hosting the race in the future.
He also raises the question over the willingness of French cities and regions to commit budgets to hosting the opening days of the race, in 2015, due to municipal elections being held in France next March.
As for Milan, speaking earlier this month about its preparations to host Expo 2015, the city’s mayor Giovanni Pisapia said: “We are also working to bring a stage of the Tour de France.”Given the distance between Milan and the French border, it seems unlikely that the Italian city could host a stage unless it formed part of a Grand Départ.
Historically, of course, Milan is closely linked with the Giro d’Italia, with organisers RCS based in the city, as is the Gazzetta dello Sport, which the group also owns.
In recent years, however, the relationship between race organisers and the city authorities has been strained, as highlighted by this year’s race ending in Brescia, with next year’s scheduled to finish in Trieste, and Milan being missed out altogether on both occasions.
Helmet zealots' lack of logic and knowledge, as evidenced by your post I responded to, exasperate me I'm afraid.
Absolutely agree: "You'll be sure to make a statement with these brightly-coloured road shoes from Fizik" - the statement being "I have no taste...
Well done to Nick for opening up and sharing his story. Much respect.
Anything shy of a watersports dry suit (and you don't want to ride a bike in one of those) will let in heavy, set-in rain, as identified typically...
Never ever experienced this.
But he doesn't seem to be a swivel eyed loon of the right. So no chance.
I'd argue its dishonest to claim it is greater, what happens in London doesnt automatically translate to how the rest of the country behaves on the...
They have their own forum for members, go check them out....
I don't think this kind of "innovation" is a positive step for active travel. However, that's the way of the world. Who's going to buy "just...
Had a little look at the Fectr site. They do helmet reflectors that they claim will not harm "paintwork"