Cycling: Guadeloupe want Tour

The small Caribbean island of Guadeloupe will apply to organise the opening of the Tour de France in 2000.

The Tour de France said yesterday that its director of external relations, Bernard Hinault, will sign an agreement pulling the two countries' cycling teams closer together.

During Hinault's trip this weekend Guadeloupe is expected to join the ranks of Belgium, Germany, Denmark and several French cities in vying to organise the race's start.

The agreement will bring more teams from Guadeloupe into French and international races. In exchange, French teams will get to train for the upcoming season on the tropical island.