THE START OF THE 2015 TOUR DE FRANCE IN ST MARK’S SQUARE?
The Tour de France may start from St Mark’s Square in 2015, possibly in conjunction with the Universal Exposition in Milan, provided there is no cost to the city for the entire operation. This is what may be deduced from yesterday’s meeting between the city council, represented by the mayor Giorgio Orsoni, the councillor for sport Andrea Ferrazzi and the mayor’s delegate for big events Laura Fincato, and the Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme and Grand Depart manager Cyrile Tricart, who have been in Venice over the last few days for the Carnival. Eleonora Bottecchia, the tour operator who has been pursuing the project for two years was also present. The meeting ended on a positive note as both parties are keen to organise this big sporting and promotional event in Venice. The next step will be to sign an agreement between the two and then to formalise Venice’s candidacy for hosting the first act of the Tour de France - and the evocative date of 2015 is still free.