Tour de France to start with short time trial in 2017

Duesseldorf mayor Thomas Geisel, right, and Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme pose during the presentation of the Tour de France 2017 start stage in Paris. AP

PARIS — The 2017 Tour de France will start with a short time trial in the streets of Duesseldorf, offering German rider Tony Martin an opportunity to grab the yellow jersey in front of his home fans.

Tour organizers unveiled details of the opening stage Thursday after announcing in December that the Grand Depart would take place in Germany for the fourth time in the race’s century-old history.

A three-time time trial world champion, Martin should thrive on the 13-kilometer urban course taking the riders down the banks of the Rhine river on July 1, 2017.

The last time the three-week race started in Germany was in 1987.

The second stage of the race will start from Duesseldorf, with the stage finish to be revealed at the route presentation in October.