Lynne Kiesling
London will host the Grand Depart, the first stage of the Tour de France, in 2007.
Some think it may be a clever, sinister plot to invade England, but if that’s the case, London is paying for the honor:
The U.K. capital will host the prologue and first stage of cycling’s biggest event in July 2007 after paying race organizers a fee of 1.5 million pounds ($2.7 million). The city approached Formula One’s commercial manager Bernie Ecclestone in 2004 about staging a Grand Prix before balking at the price tag of 30 million to 60 million pounds, the mayor said.
Hat tip: Londonist.