According to Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad, Tour de France organizers ASO have accepted a big form the local organizing committee for the 2015 edition of the world's biggest bike race to start in the Dutch city of Utrecht. However, the organizers still need to find 3,5 million euros from private sponsors to cover the cost.

The Tour de France may deviate from its usual pattern of starting in France every second year as Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad has reported that organizers ASO have decided to let the world's biggest race take off from the Dutch city of Utrecht in 2015. In 2014, the race will start in Great Britian and so a Dutch grand depart would be the second in a row to take place on foreign soil.

The paper reports that the deal will be closed at meetings that will take place in conjunction with the unveiling of the 2014 course which takes place on Saturday in the Palais des Congres in Paris. However, the local organizers still haven't found the necessary funding to host the start.

The paper states that the city council will cover half of the costs of 10 million euros while the remaining part will be found from private sponsors. At present, 1,5 million euros have been found but there's still a shortfall of 3,5 million euros. The organizers are optimistic that they will find the necessary funding in time.

The rumours come just a few days after the reports that the Italian city of Turin is trying to secure the start of the 2015 edition of the Vuelta a Espana.