After Dusseldorf has been granted the Grand Depart of the 2017 Tour de France, Mannheim joins Bad Homburg as a candidate to host stage of the French race, according to a report in Mannheimer Morgen.

"The chance to be a host city has nothing to do with the Tour start in Dusseldorf. Mannheim is in contact with the organizers of the Tour de France," said a city council spokeswoman. However, there is currently neither a commitment nor any financial backing.

The reason for the the plans is the 200th anniversary of Karl Drais’ invention of the Laufmaschine in 1817.