It is the first major stage race on the French calendar. The Paris-Nice cyclist starts Sunday at 11 am from Plaisir, in the Yvelines; expected arrival in 8 days in Nice. In the midst of a coronavirus epidemic, the organizer, ASO, the same organization of the Tour de France and the Paris Marathon - already postponed - had to adapt, however. Even if the race does not pass through the areas affected by the epidemic.
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An ambulance and additional teams in the hotel
In the name of the precautionary principle, 7 teams have given up on Paris-Nice. The race for the sun will take place. To limit the risk of contamination, the public will be kept as far as possible from the riders, the interviews will be restricted and the ceremonies of protocol reduced. "Among the measures taken, there will be an additional ambulance behind the peloton, in case someone has to be isolated, and two different teams per hotel," explains Christian Prudhomme, director of cycling at ASO.
"It is really the job of the staff to accompany us on this, to remind us of the precautionary principles and to make available the hydroalcoholic gels", confides Guillaume Martin, leading rider of the Cofidis team. "If one of my guys wins, we will still kiss, even if it's forbidden!" Predicts Marc Madiot, manager of Groupama-FDJ training at Thibault Pinault.