Germany now appears favourite to host the Grand Depart of the 2017 Tour De France after London withdrew from the race to host the start.
London, Edinburgh and Manchester had all been cited as being in the bidding along with five German cities including Berlin.
However, London, who were close to signing a deal with race organisers A.S.O (Amaury Sports Organisation), have said through Transport for London (TfL), who were the funding arm of London's bif that England's capital city was pulling out.
"To ensure value for money, we must make difficult choices," Leon Daniels, managing director of surface transport at TfL, told BBC Sport.
"We have always said that the return of the Tour was subject to funding."
London hosted the Grand Depart in 2007 and had a stage finish in 2014, when the Grand Depart was held in Yorkshire but following its withdrawal, the way is now clear for the likes of Berlin to step forward and let Germany host the race for the first time since 2005.
Source: DSG
