Germany's bid to start the 2029 Tour de France is expected to cost about €50 million, most of it from public budgets, Thomas Hofmann told the Bundestag's sports committee on November 4. The chair of Grand Départ Allemagne asked the federal government to commit its share before ASO chooses a host, which he said the organiser wants to do by February 2027 at the latest.
Hofmann said that talks with the state of Saxony were advanced, with discussions continuing with the other states.
"For ASO, that would be a decisive signal," he said of federal backing. "The whole project would receive a corresponding boost if we can demonstrate that the relevant share will come from the federal government."
What €50 million buys
Back in March, the bid was budgeted at €25 million, with a third expected from sponsors, a structure that sat behind German Cycling's backing of the bid. The sponsorship target is now €7–10 million. That is close to the roughly €8.3 million sought in spring, but it now covers only 14–20% of the budget. If sponsors deliver, €40–43 million would remain for the federal government and the four states, Berlin, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. Public broadcaster rbb|24 reported that the plan splits public costs equally between them.
The bid proposes four stages across the four states. The association says this would be the first Grand Départ with four stages entirely outside France. The association's written submission adds school and club programmes starting before 2029, amateur rides on parts of the route, a volunteer scheme run through regional clubs and road-safety campaigns. The bid, sent to ASO on July 29, is built around the 40th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
"We do not want money from sports funding; it must come from other pots," Hofmann said. "This is primarily an economic matter. The Tour is pure economic development."
He forecast "a return of at least 150 million", which he called "very conservatively" calculated. The submission bases that case on spending in hotels, hospitality, retail and services. The official assessment of the 2023 Basque start, which the German submission cites, shows how such figures shrink when measured differently. On a €12.2 million budget it found €103.9 million in additional economic activity, €58.2 million in GDP and €19.5 million returned through taxes and social security.
Sports economist Christoph Breuer told rbb|24 that "most forecasts for major events overestimate the economic effects."
Berlin's sport administration told the broadcaster that it could not yet give the city's share, and that any participation depends on parliamentary decisions. Claudia Engelmann of Die Linke has asked whether Berlin's tight budget would be better spent repairing sports facilities.
The 2025 Thüringen Ladies Tour was cancelled on March 17 after its organisers said an expected €200,000 state contribution was not available.
This isn’t the only bid on the table for ASO to consider, either. Czechia is also involved. And Prague's rival bid is cheaper, at €22–30 million, with about half to come from the national sports agency. It also still needs government approval. Hofmann told the committee that the Czech bid is a serious threat.
"The financing also seems relatively secure," he said. "They are applying considerable pressure. A.S.O. has also visited several times."
Czechia is pulling out all the stops and have a very strong cycling scene very much in place compared to the more fragile German one. That said, Germany does have an annual ASO-run event in the Deutschland Tour, so ASO know roughly what they would be dealing with if they decided to start in Germany again.
As reported, ASO are expected to make a decision by February next year at the latest. Until then, both bids will be chasing funding and government approval.
