Britain to bid for 2026 Tour de France Grand Depart

LONDON - The Tour de France could return to Britain in 2026 after the government confirmed on Wednesday it would help fund a bid to host the Grand Depart for the world's most-celebrated bike race.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak's Autumn Budget confirmed that funds would be allocated for a Tour de France bid as part of a 40 million pounds package aimed at hosting more world class sporting events to the UK.

The government is also backing a British-Irish bid to host the 2030 soccer World Cup and the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup.