2010 Tour de France to start in Rotterdam

Published 9:41 am Thursday, November 20, 2008

ISSY-LES-MOULINEAUX, France — Race organizers say the 2010 Tour de France will start in the Netherlands.

The 97th edition of cycling’s showcase race will begin July 3 in Rotterdam, which the Amaury Sport Organization said was chosen ahead of Utrecht, another Dutch city.

“They both had the qualities to host a Grand Depart and the candidate’s dossiers were of excellent quality,” ASO, which owns the Tour, said in a statement Thursday. “We hope that Utrecht, which showed its enthusiasm and its passion, will once again be a candidate for a future Tour.”

Next year’s Tour, which may see the comeback of seven-time champion Lance Armstrong, starts in Monaco on July 4.