Asia has never hosted Tour de France, which is considered as cycling's most prestigious race. This 2014, Thailand brazenly announced that they were in discussions to host the world's greatest race in 2016. The announcement stunned the event's organizers.
The Tour de France is a yearly multiple stage cycle race primarily held in France, while also intermittently making passes through neighboring countries. The race has been held annually since its first 1903 edition except for when it was halted for the two World Wars. As the Tour gained fame and reputation, the race began to extend globally. From a predominantly French field, participation stretched as riders worldwide began to join in the race each year.
Tour de France organizers clearly said that their discussion with Southeast Asian nation is only to hold a low key one-day race in Thailand. However, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said that they were having talks with the Amaury Sports Organization (ASO), the race's organizers, about bringing the world's biggest cycling event to Asia for the very first time in its history.
On Thursday, a senior tourism officer told Reuters that they were confident of being able to bring Tour de France to Thailand in 2016. The official claimed to have efficacious talks with ASO chairman Jean-Etienne Amaury in Paris last month and was working on how much of the prominent race they would hold.
In a statement to Reuters, TAT Governor Thawatchai Arunyik said, "We are still talking with Tour de France organizers but we are looking at next fiscal year, so 2016, not 2015. We're not sure yet how many stages we will hold whether it is one or two stages or the whole competition. This is something that still needs to be discussed." He also added that Thailand is the impeccable place for the world's most famous cycling race, not to mention that the sport has gained extreme popularity in the Asian nation.
If Thailand will ever host the Tour de France in 2016, it is the first time that the race was held in Asia. In 2014, the UK hosted the Tour for the second time, with a fruitful Grand Depart held in Yorkshire. While the 2015 Tour will be the 21st time that the race has taken place outside its home-based country with the Grand Depart to start in Utrecht in the Netherlands.
However, Thailand's claims to host Tour de France surprised ASO officials. Upon hearing TAT's claim, an organizer spokesperson told Reuters, "There are talks indeed but not to bring the Tour to Thailand. There are discussions to settle in Thailand via a criterium, just like we did in Japan with the 'Saitama Criterium by Le Tour de France'."
French organization ASO has no plans to stage part of the high-status three-week French race in Thailand, however, a so-called criterium will be held in the Asian country. A criterium is a one-day race held on a circuit or through a city which frequently draws the Tour de France winner but has minute sporting significance.
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