Slovenia eyeing bid to host Tour de France Grand Depart

As Slovenia's cycling superstar Tadej Pogačar is expected to go for his fourth Tour de France title this year an initiative has been launched for Slovenia to bid to host the race's Grand Depart in 2028 or 2029, CE Report quotes The Slovenia Times.

Tomaž Ambrožič, founder and director of Sport Media Focus, a sports-marketing agency that organises the L'Etape Slovenia by Tour de France recreational cycling event, has told the rtvslo.si news site that the French organisers are open to the idea.

"Initial discussions have taken place, including one with the director of ASO. There is a willingness on the French side, ASO is willing to listen. But now we would need some kind of government letter of intent," he told the site of the Slovenian public broadcaster, referring to Amaury Sport Organization (ASO), which organizes the race.

The initiative has also been presented to Matjaž Han, the Slovenian minister of the economy, tourism and sport, by Matjaž Rakovec, the mayor of Kranj, which has been hosting the L'Etape Slovenia by Tour de France race since 2022.

The world's most prestigious cycling race typically starts with three stages in a different city or region each year, often in a country outside France. After Copenhagen, Bilbao and Florence, the Grand Depart will take place in Lille, France this year and in Barcelona next year before it is expected to return to the UK for the third time in 2027.

Slovenia, a cycling powerhouse with riders of the likes of Tadej Pogačar, Primož Roglič and Matej Mohorič, could well go for the bid. "Maybe this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It's not an impossible or unattainable dream," Ambrožič says.

The Slovenian Cycling Association is not directly involved in the initiative, but they are willing to take part in the potential project. "This is certainly the wish of Slovenian cycling. We have the champions and hosting is possible," the association's Rok Lozej told rtvslo.si.

According to the site, the cost of hosting the Grand Depart in Copenhagen and Bilbao was around €12 million, including ASO fee and the organisation of the stages and accompanying programme, while Barcelona is to pay at least €7-8 million to ASO to host the start of the Tour de France in 2026.

By the time Slovenia could potentially host the event in 2028 or 2029, Pogačar will be 29 or 30 and Roglič will be 38 or 39 years old.