Luxembourg and Prague in race to host 2028 Tour de France Grand Départ
Luxembourg’s hopes of welcoming the Tour de France peloton in 2028 are still alive. Tour director Christian Prudhomme will visit the Grand Duchy on Wednesday for what is seen as a key meeting with Sports Minister Georges Mischo, as plans for the next Grand Départs take shape.
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The Luxembourg government gave its official backing earlier this year, and optimism remains high that the country could secure the race start for the first time in over two decades. L’essentiel reports that the Czech Republic has also entered the race, proposing a start in Prague. With Škoda as a long-time Tour partner, the Czech bid carries weight.
According to L’essentiel, several French cities and regions are pushing back against the idea of three consecutive foreign Grand Départs, with Barcelona and Edinburgh already confirmed for 2026 and 2027. Slovenia, meanwhile, is reportedly targeting the 2029 or 2031 edition.
The debate reflects how frequent foreign starts have become. What began in 1954 as a rare venture beyond France has become a defining feature of the modern Tour, with 2022 (Copenhagen), 2023 (Bilbao) and 2024 (Florence) marking the first-ever run of three consecutive starts abroad.
For the ASO, these foreign Grand Départs offer both global visibility and strong financial returns. Host cities invest millions for the right to welcome the Tour, often recouping that through tourism and media exposure. However, some voices in France have warned that too many international starts risk eroding the Tour’s national identity.
Despite that, Luxembourg is determined to host its third Grand Départ after 1989 and 2002. The year 2028 carries special meaning, marking the 100th anniversary of Nicolas Frantz’s second Tour victory and the 70th anniversary of Charly Gaul’s triumph.
“The goal is to put Luxembourg back on the map of European cycling,” Prime Minister Luc Frieden said in February, emphasizing the major economic and touristic benefits the event would bring.
The Tour last passed through Luxembourg in 2017, with stage three crossing the country from Verviers to Longwy and stage four starting in Mondorf-les-Bains and finishing in Obernai. Should Luxembourg’s Grand Départ bid fall short, L’essentiel reports that the country has also applied to host at least one stage of the race.
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