The Dutch Cycling Federation is seeking to recover a sum of €140,000 reportedly owed by Tour de France organisers for hosting the start of the 2015 race ©Getty Images

The Dutch Cycling Federation (KNWU) has requested arbitration by the International Cycling Union (UCI) in a bid to recover a sum of €140,000 (£100,000/$150,000) said to be owed to them by the organisers of the Tour de France for hosting the start of this year’s race in Utrecht.

Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) is yet to pay the bill, according to reports, with the amount equating to that quoted in the KNWU’s rules for anyone who wishes to organise a race in The Netherlands.

"We have requested arbitration by the International Cycling Union because ASO is refusing to pay the money," Huib Kloosterhuis, director of the KNWU, told Agence France-Presse.

"We have sent letters to ASO, who knew about this obligation, but they are no longer replying."

Kloosterhuis told the NL Times: "For the ASO this amount is child’s play, but for us it’s serious money and that’s why we are not just letting it slide."

Speaking to Dutch media, ASO executive director Christian Prudhomme described the bill as "an absurd sum, not based on anything".

"We received a bill of close to €140,000 out of nowhere, and with no explanation," he said, adding ASO had never received such a costly bill before.

A decision on the matter is expected to be made by the end of this month.

Australia's Rohan Dennis claimed victory in the opening stage of this year's Tour de France
Australia's Rohan Dennis claimed victory in the opening stage of this year's Tour de France ©Getty Images

The 2015 Tour de France began in Utrecht on July 4 when Australia's Rohan Dennis produced the fastest individual time trial in the event’s history to claim victory on the opening stage.

Great Britain's Chris Froome was crowned the winner for a second time 22 days later after avoiding accidents on the 109.5 kilometres final leg from Sevres to the Champs-Elysées in Paris.

Froome was virtually assured of becoming the first Briton to win the Tour more than once, having earned his first victory at the 100th edition of the race in 2013, with only a crash standing in his way of topping the podium in front of the Arc de Triomphe.

As well as the opening time trial, The Netherlands also hosted the sprint stage to Zeeland, won by Germany’s André Greipel.



Related stories
July 2015: Froome crowned Tour de France winner for second time as Greipel confirms sprint supremacy
July 2015: Froome set to be crowned 2015 Tour de France winner after surviving Quintana attack on stage 20
July 2015: Defending champion Nibali claims Tour de France stage 19 as Froome suffers setback
July 2015: Bardet breaks clear to claim second French stage victory of 2015 Tour de France
July 2015: Australian Dennis claims stage one of 2015 Tour de France with record-breaking time trial win