The Tour de France are hoping to stage a criterium race in Shangai as part of pushing the sport of cycling in China.
A sixty strong peloton featuring some of the world's best riders and likely the 2017 Tour De France winner will take place over October 28th and 29th over a three kilometre course which will take in some of the city's major landmarks in a bid to attract fans and sponsors the sport of cycling in a country where the bicycle is a means of transport.
"There is growing interest in cycling in China. We want to help develop the sport," Jean-Etienne Amaury, president of Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), organiser of the Tour of France, said to AFP. "If there are Chinese teams, there will also be interest from Chinese sponsors."
Amaury is hoping that the race which is moving from Japan will become an annual event and is hopeful that the Chinese authorities will grant permits so that the race can go ahead.
An "Etape China" (China Stage) will be held in Changsha in September for Chinese based cyclists to enter.
By Kev Monks for Digital Sports Group.
Source: DSG
