Chances are that the Tour de France in 2017 or 2018 will kick off in Germany. Four candidate cities have asked for the 'Grand Départ' of the race according to Christian Prudhomme, race director. He is delighted about the growing interest in cycling in Germany.

In response to the many doping cases, including those of German riders, Germany turned away from the Tour de France, but now the cyclist live again fully in the public eye. Starting this year, the Tour will again be broadcast live on public broadcasting and according Prudhomme cities are in line to host the Tour start.

"Between 2006 and 2014, Mannheim was the only German city that suggested themselves as a candidate for a Tour stage," he told De Telegraaf. "Now there are four reported cities. This means that cycling in Germany begins to live once more."

Prudhomme is happy with the current state of the German cycling. "Due to the success of Marcel Kittel and John Degenkolb, Tony Martin and Andre Greipel, the sport is again in the ascendency. The German team Giant-Alpecin is a huge incentive." The former Dutch team Giant-Alpecin runs from 2015 under a German license. It is the only WorldTour team this season with a German license.