Berlin passes on Tour de France start

The sports minister for the city has confirmed that a bid for the Tour, which would cost around 10 million euros, is economically unviable.

"We will dismiss that idea," Andreas Statzkowksi told Tagesspiegel.

However, the worlds provide a substantially cheaper option for Berlin at around the 1.5 million euro mark and Statzkowksi confirmed the city's velodrome would be in the frame to host the event.

"We are considering whether we should bid for that," he said. "(The worlds) would also attract foreign guests, which is good for Berlin's image."