Tour de France race director Christian Prudhomme makes cycling fans hope for a return of the Tour to Germany. "Germany is a very important country in Europe. There is a lot of enthusiasm. We are working with several different cities on a return to Germany and I hope that it will become reality," the Frenchman told DPA at at the route presentation in in Paris.

A German Tour start is already possible in 2017. "Why not?" he asked. Dusseldorf is regarded as having the best chances to obtain the contract for the Grand Départ.

The German riders would be happy if the plans succeed. "Dusseldorf is known as a sports city. I would be delighted if the Tour de France were to come to this city of sport. It would be nice to experience something like that in my career. The Tour is one of the biggest sporting events ever. It would be a new sign for cycling in Germany, "said Andre Greipel, four-time Tour stage winner in 2015. Tony Martin added: "'The hope and wishful thinking is there. It would be awesome for German cycling, the fans and for me of course."

In 2005 the Tour last visited Germany and the cities of Karlsruhe and Pforzheim. The last Tour start in Germany took place in 1987 in West-Berlin. Dusseldorf is considered a serious candidate, but the liberal FDP party which is part of the local government, is against the Tour application.