The tour will therefore return to Germany in 2017, for the first time since 2005 - and for the first time in 30 years, back then in Berlin, it will start on German soil. A plan that the then Lord Mayor of the city, Joachim Erwin, who was also known beyond the region for his doer politics and debt-free political style, had already put forward to the ASO Tour organisers ten years ago, but which was not realised after Erwin's death. According to reports, Erwin's successor Dirk Elbers was not too keen on the idea. When sports enthusiast Thomas Geisel was elected by the citizens of the city in autumn 2014, former professional cyclist Sven Teutenberg and his wife Suzan quickly went on the offensive and began their persuasion efforts to finally make the project a reality. If you ask around, the Teutenbergs, who run the La Bici bike shop in Düsseldorf-Oberkassel, have provided the initial spark that not only Christian Prudhomme and the world's most successful cycling organisation came to the Rhine today, but also well over 100 media representatives and five-time Tour de France winner Bernard Hinault.
At the presentation of the Grand Départ of the Tour, Christian Prudhomme bowed to Germany as a cycling country that has recently produced so many stage winners - but also has a long history of success in the sport, in which it produced the first winner at Paris-Roubaix, for example. It has been clear for some time that the ASO wants to focus more on the German market again following the doping crisis.
As far as the sport is concerned, the start can also be seen as a nod to German time trial expert Tony Martin. After all, the 13-kilometre course through Düsseldorf city centre on 1 July 2017 is likely to suit him. He already spoke of a "jackpot" in a television interview with ARD. The second stage will loop through a city - it is not yet clear where it will end - but there is now a more realistic picture, as it will only leave the city after around 50 kilometres on the left bank of the Rhine. The arrow is currently pointing up the Rhine - I wonder if Cologne is also a possible waymark? So far, there is said to be no candidature from there.
The organisers say that it is currently completely open as to which of the numerous municipalities in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium will host the finish on 2 July. Of course, the organisers in Düsseldorf have a certain amount of influence, but the decision-making authority lies with the ASO, says Sven Teutenberg.
In any case, Düsseldorf now has big dreams in cycling. Carsten Wien from the Düsseldorf cult cycling café Schicke Mütze sees the Grand Départ as a great sign for the city, which has so far remained "under the radar" in the sport. But now that is changing: "A lot is happening here. We are already noticing, for example, that companies are approaching us and want to organise something together with us." The cycling culture in Düsseldorf is likely to benefit - as is the amateur scene, where - as rumour has it - the "Rund um die Kö" race could also be given a new look in the run-up to the start of the Tour.
An important aspect of a Tour in Germany must also be the public commitment against doping. Lord Mayor Geisel promised to put "clean sport", as he said, "centre stage". He is also convinced that the ASO is the right partner for this. Doping prevention will also be an integral part of the programme in the run-up to the start. According to Sven Teutenberg, the German anti-doping agency Nada has already signalled its willingness to participate.
So there are many optimistic tones to be heard on this day - but there is also a bit of pensiveness mixed in. Jens Zemke, sports director at Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka, finds it remarkable that the Tour de France is coming to Germany, but almost simultaneously with the Tour of Bavaria, the last remaining professional stage race is being cancelled for financial reasons. "Apparently we can only do big."
However, Sven Teutenberg is optimistic. The signal sent out by the 2017 Tour in Düsseldorf will be positive. "More money will be channelled into the sport," he says, and then there will be new races again.
