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STAGE CLOSER TO TOUR DE FRANCE THROUGH SHEPWAY

Tour de France

The Tour de France cycle race could be coming to Folkestone in 2007 if London's bid for the start of the race is successful.

The capital's bid for the start race was boosted after officials confirmed that announcements concerning London and the race will be made over the next four weeks. 

If the bid succeeds, as seems increasingly likely, the Tour would begin with a prologue event in London.

The second stage would take the riders along Kent's roads towards Folkestone before transferring to France through the Channel Tunnel.

The Tour has only visited England twice, and in 1994 an estimated three million people lined the route on two stages running from Dover to Portsmouth via Brighton.