MADRID, Sept 16, 2008 (AFP) – Next year’s Tour de France is set for a two-stage incursion to Barcelona, according to the Catalan city’s Mayor Jordi Hereu on Tuesday.

“This is important for the city, but also for the Tour, for cycling and sport in general,” said Hereu.

The city’s top sports co-coordinator, Pere Alcober, said Barcelona would host a stage finish on July 8 and the start of a stage on July 9.

Dates for next year’s race, which is scheduled to start in the principality of Monaco, have yet to be confirmed by race organizers.