Limburg goes for 2016 Tour de France stage

The south-eastern Dutch province Limburg is vying for a Tour de France stage in 2016. Putting a stage in the province would be a coup for Dutch cycling, with the 2015 launch of the race also scheduled in the Netherlands.

Utrecht will play host to the the Grand Départ on July 4, 2015. Day two sees the cyclists race from Utrect to Zeeland, before heading into Belgium.

No date has been given for the possible stage, reports both Nu.nl and broadcaster NOS.

Tour director Christian Prudhomme “had warm words for our province,” said Ger Koopmans, a Limburg province commissioner. “Anyway, I am really very happy with it.”

Despite the tour starting far away in the French department Manche, Koopmans hopes Limburg can win some part of the race.

“We are an outstanding cycling province with our hills,” Koopmans said.