UCI has announced that is putting all cycling races oh hold until the beginning of June which may jeopardise the original timetable for for Tour de France.
The French government has indicated it was looking at different options at how Tour de France might be able to take place without any present audience but the feasibility of staging such an event in any form is increasingly questionable as the shutdown of professional cycling continues.
Christian Prudhomme, director of Tour de France said “I would be lying if I said that we were not working on another hypothesis,” he said of the race starting on time. “The riders must be able to resume training at the end of April for the Tour de France to remain on these dates. But the most important thing by far is the fight against the pandemic. We will adapt according to the health situation in the country.”
Following talks with race leaders, teams and participants, the UCI said on Wednesday that it was extending its race suspension and working on a revised schedule that would target the three Grand Tours – the Giro d’Italia, the Tour de France and Vuelta a España – as well as the Monuments, the five largest one-day events.
“Given the severity of the health situation throughout the world, the UCI and its stakeholders unanimously decided to prolong the suspension of cycling competitions until 1 June 2020, and until further notice,” a statement said.
“The UCI also decided that this extension would apply to all cycling disciplines and all categories of riders. In its role of governing body of our sport, the UCI is working on a framework for the future UCI International Road Calendar, based on its exchanges with the stakeholders and giving priority to the three Grands Tours and cycling’s Monuments.
“Confirming the principle of a prolongation of the men’s and women’s road season, announced on 18 March, the UCI does not exclude the possibility of pushing back the end of the season depending on the date racing resumes, when this is known.”
The Giro d’Italia, due to start in Budapest on 9 May, was among the first races to be postponed, while the Vuelta status, scheduled to start in Utrecht on 14 August, remains in the balance.
