London has declined the opportunity to host the Tour de France Grand Depart in 2017, Transport for London has confirmed.
The capital was asked to host the world's most prestigious cycling race 10 years on from its successful staging of the Tour's prologue and first-stage start, and three years after hosting a stage finish of the 2014 edition which began in Leeds.
Leon Daniels, managing director of surface transport at TfL, said: "We have loved hosting the Tour de France in 2007 and 2014, both of which were amazing events that inspired thousands of new cyclists and showcased London as a world class city for cycling.
