By Julien Pretot PARIS, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Cycling remains big in Britain despite London's decision to turn down the chance to host a Tour de France Grand Depart again in 2017, race director Christian Prudhomme said on Tuesday. The BBC quoted Transport for London (TfL), who would have funded the opening stages if the British capital had been chosen by Tour organisers Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) as saying that it was pulling out. London hosted a massively successful Grand Depart in 2007 and thousands again watched the end of last year's third stage near Buckingham Palace, following two hugely-successful stages in the north of England. More...