2017 Tour de France to start in Dusseldorf

For the first time for 30 years Germany will host the start of the Tour de France, the 2017 version kicking off in Dusseldorf.

Germany's Andre Greipel winning the final stage of the 2015 Tour de France on the Champs-Elysees in Paris (Getty) Source: Getty Images

The German city of Dusseldorf will host the Grand Depart of the 2017 Tour de France, the organisers announced on Tuesday.

The city council voted 40-39 in favour of applying last month after London withdrew for cost reasons.

It will be the first time for 30 years that Germany has hosted the Grand Depart, since West Berlin in 1987 and can be seen as a reward for recent Tour successes by local riders.

30ans après @letour revient en Allemagne / 30 years later @letour is back in Germany! @LeTourDUS #TDF1987 #TDF2017 https://t.co/8Qg2cEQnaB — Le Tour de France (@letour) December 22, 2015

The route for the opener will be revealed on 14 January and will be sure to favour German stars like Tony Martin and Marcel Kittel of Etixx-QuickStep, Andre Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) or Giant-Alpecin's John Degenkolb and Simon Geschke.

In 2016 the Tour de France Grand Depart will be in La Manche in northern France. SBS will be broadcasting all stages live from 2 -24 July.