Cycling: The second stage of the 2017 Tour de France will lead from the starting point in Düsseldorf through the Neandertal to Mönchengladbach. This was announced by tour boss Christian Prudhomme this morning at a specially scheduled press conference. The entire route will be presented to the public on October 18, 2016.
Finally there are more details on the 2017 tour route - after details on the Grand Départ in Düsseldorf were presented some time ago, Christian Prudhomme commented today on the second stage of the Grand Boucle next year. As previously announced, the starting signal will also be given in Düsseldorf and, after a small loop, will lead the drivers through Mönchengladbach. The first sprint ranking of the 2017 Tour will also be held here.
"I'm really happy. It is a great opportunity for the sports-loving city, the region and for Germany as a nation of sports, given the global media coverage such a Tour de France has. The Grand Départ 2017 will suit the sports city of Mönchengladbach very well." said Mönchengladbach Mayor Hans Wilhelm Reiners. So far there has been no further details about the route, but it seems certain that the drivers will drive through downtown Mönchengladbach. Cycling fans from the region, from Germany and from all over the world will line the roadsides, Reiners is confident: "We are assuming that there will be a large number of visitors who do not want to miss out on the mega event."
On Saturday, July 1, 2017, the starting signal for the Tour de France 2017 will be given in Düsseldorf with an individual time trial. The day after, it will then be a flat stage in a westerly direction to Mönchengladbach – where exactly the stage destination will be is still unknown at the moment not known. The final route with all the details will be announced by the ASO on October 18, 2016.