(L-R) Luc Frieden, Prime Minister of Luxembourg; Grand Duke Henri; Christian Prudhomme, Director of the Tour de France; Georges Mischo, Luxembourg's Minister of Sports; Credit: MT

On Wednesday 8 October 2025, Luxembourg officially submitted its bid to host the 2028 Tour de France Grand Départ at a ceremony at the Coque in Luxembourg-Kirchberg.

The submission took place in the presence of Grand Duke Henri, member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Prime Minister Luc Frieden and Sports Minister Georges Mischo, and was handed to Christian Prudhomme, Cycling Director at Amaury Sport Organisation and Director of the Tour de France; the bid dossier, titled “Heritage of the Past, Promise of the Future,” outlines Luxembourg’s cycling heritage and future vision and highlights its ties with France, according to the Ministry of Sport and the Ministry of State.

“Hosting the Tour de France also strengthens Luxembourg’s attractiveness and places our country in the hearts of Europeans and the wider world. Luxembourg is ready - ready to experience this event with enthusiasm and pride, and above all ready to share with France, Europe and the world a common vision: that of a sport that brings people together, that inspires and that unites,” said the Prime Minister in his speech.

The Ministries noted that Luxembourg has long left its mark on the Tour de France through figures such as François Faber, Nicolas Frantz and Charly Gaul, and more recently Andy Schleck, Fränk Schleck and Kim Kirchen.

They added that 2028 will coincide with two symbolic anniversaries: the centenary of Nicolas Frantz’s double victory and the 70th anniversary of Charly Gaul’s triumph.

The 2028 Grand Départ project provides for three stages:

  • an opening individual time trial in Luxembourg City;
  • a long and selective second stage across the country;
  • a third stage departing from Schengen, a landmark of European unity.

The routes were designed, among others, by Fränk Schleck, Andy Schleck and Kim Kirchen, drawing on their experience as former Tour riders to develop courses that are both demanding and rooted in the territory’s identity.

“Heritage of the past, promise of the future: this is the deeper meaning of our bid. The Tour de France is part of our national sporting identity, anchored in a glorious past and oriented towards an ambitious future. We are ready to offer a Grand Départ that combines sporting excellence, popular passion and symbolic strength, true to the spirit of the Tour and that of Luxembourg,” said Minister Mischo.

The Ministries noted that, with Grand Départs hosted in 1989 and 2002, Luxembourg has developed recognised expertise in organising major cycling events. The country’s compact geography enables efficient stage coordination and movement management, while the well-maintained national road network supports the safe circulation of spectators and official, support and security vehicles, and ensures rider safety.

They also highlighted modern, versatile infrastructure for parallel events, team and official vehicle management and media operations, with airport and rail links providing rapid, reliable access for spectators, media and delegations.