Tour de France coming back to London? Mayor keen and says ASO doesn't hold a grudge

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has said he wants to bring the Tour de France back to the city. The British capital had been set to be awarded the Grand Depart of this year's 104th edition of he race until Khan's predecessor, Boris Johnson, withdrew its bid at the eleventh hour.

The Labour politician told the Evening Standard that he has already met with race organisers ASO, with the mayor revealing that “they’re not holding a grudge from what happened last time: they realise that was the previous guy."

The newspaper says, however, that it could be some time until the race returns to London, which previously hosted the Grand Depart in 2007 as well as the finish of Stage 3 of the 2014 edition of the race, when the first two days took place in Yorkshire. 

London withdrew its bid for the 2017 Grand Depart on the eve of contracts being signed with ASO citing funding issues in a move that reportedly angered the race owners. The city of Düsseldorf in Germany was instead awarded the start of this year's race.

> London wins Grand Depart of 2017 Tour de France - then TfL withdraws bid at 11th hour

Khan was outlining his plans to bring more world-class sporting events to London, host city of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The UCI Track Cycling world Championships were held at the velodrome at the Lee Valley VeloPark 12 months ago and this year the London Stadium in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will welcome the Athletics World Championships.