Ireland agrees bid to host Tour de France again

Agreement to present a joint North-South bid follows talks between Minister Catherine Martin and Gordon Lyons, Minister for the Economy in the Northern Ireland Executive.

British cyclist Chris Boardman wearing the yellow jersey before the first stage of the 85th Tour de France around Dublin 12 July. ( (Photo PATRICK KOVARIK/AFP via Getty Images)

The island of Ireland will bid to host the opening stages of the Tour de France in either 2026 or 2027.

Agreement to present a joint North-South bid follows talks between Minister Catherine Martin — the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media — and Gordon Lyons, Minister for the Economy in the Northern Ireland Executive.