After weeks of holding out hope that the world’s most popular and prized event ‘Tour de France’ would be able to go ahead as planned despite the coronavirus pandemic, the world’s most famous cycling race was finally added to the list of sporting events called off.
The decision followed French president Emmanuel Macron’s Monday speech to the nation iwhen he announced that all public events with large crowds have been canceled until at least mid-July.
Though it may still happen this year, but it’s obvious that the three-week race won’t be starting on June 27 in the Riviera city of Nice as scheduled.
New plans could be announced before the end of April following discussions between organizer Amaury Sport Organisation and the International Cycling Unio but as reported by a local media, the event will potentially be postponed to August 29 – September 20 this year.
Earlier in March French sports minister Roxana Maracineanu said that a Tour without roadside spectators is a possibility, but it was not acceptable by the organisers.Also the borders would have to be opened too, so racers like last year’s winner — Colombian rider Egan Bernal — can travel to France.
The race’s route is over 3,000km long with millions of fans watch each year’s race in a festive atmosphere across many regions.This could pose a risk of spreading the virus further among the public and the cycling teams alike.
The last time the Tour was not held was in 1946, with the nation still emerging from World War II.
