The Flemish government is bidding to host the start of the Tour de France in 2010 or 2013. Flemish Prime Minister Yves Leterme discussed the plans last week with Le Tour's Christian Prudhomme, but realises that he will be up against some stiff competition. "Flanders is not the only one to have applied," said current Tour boss Jean-Marie Leblanc to HNB. "Utrecht, Rotterdam, Düsseldorf, Lugano, Monaco, Florence, Salzburg: all of them are candidates."
Although Belgium has hosted the start of the Tour three times, it has never begun in the Dutch speaking part of the country. Next year, the Tour will start in London, but will visit Flanders.
