The 2017 Tour de France will start in Dusseldorf. That has been confirmed by organizers of the biggest race of the world in a press release.

In early November, the Council of the North Rhine-Westphalian capital had voted in favour of hosting the event, with 40 members supporting the idea and 39 members being against.

Dusseldorf will be the fourth German city to host the Grand Départ. In the past, Cologne (1965), Frankfurt / Main (1980) and West Berlin (1987) have hosted the start of the most important cycling race in the world. Overall, the Tour de France has taken off from a foreign country on 21 occasions.

Düsseldorf Mayor Thomas Geisel (SPD), who met Tour director Christian Prudhomme during the last Tour de France, has to dig deep into his pockets. The total cost has been estimated at over six million euros for the city.

The Grand Depart will take place over three days: Friday (Team presentation), Saturday (first stage) and Sunday (start of the second stage).

The announcement marks another major step for the revival of German cycling which has suffered a lot due to the many doping scandals. Lots of races have disappeared and for a few years, publich broadcaster ARD did not show the race live. Due to the success of riders like Tony Martin, Marcel Kittel, André Greipel and John Degenkolb, ARD returned for this year's race and in 2017 the country will get the boost of hosting the Grand Depart.

The 2016 Tour de France will start in Mont Saint-Michel.