After spending two months studying the London bid, French officials said that the capital's application for the prologue appears to be in pole position, reports the Guardian Unlimited website
Although no announcement is likely until next autumn, sources close to the race say it would be a major surprise if London did not figure.
The plans submitted earlier this year appear to have seen off approaches from Utrecht and Rotterdam, both in the Netherlands, Lugano in Switzerland and Herning in Denmark.
Organisers have been swayed by the prospect of a prologue route taking in Trafalgar Square, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park and The Mall.
The preferred stage-one route would provide the event with spectacular backdrops such as Whitehall, Big Ben, the London Eye, St Paul's Cathedral, the Tower of London and Tower Bridge.
If things go to plan, it would be the Tour's first visit to Britain for 12 years.
Crowds were estimated at three million over the two days.
