Madrid (AFP)

The three major shortened one week tours? This is the recommendation of the Spanish cyclist Alejandro Valverde, who considers that the Tour de France, Spain and Italy, all postponed due to the pandemic of new coronavirus, should be limited to two weeks of racing.

"This is a very special season, very special measures have been taken. I might have shortened the three big tours by a week," said Valverde (40 years old since April 25), during '' a virtual interview with the Spanish sports press broadcast this Monday.

"It's a special year, it doesn't make sense to want to keep the three big laps at three weeks each at all costs. Why? Because otherwise (if the three weeks of racing are maintained everywhere), that brings us very far, towards the end of the season, "proclaimed the rider of the Spanish group Movistar.

The new coronavirus pandemic forced the organizers to postpone the Tour de France, initially scheduled from June 27 to July 19, which will finally be disputed between August 29 and September 20, as announced on April 15 by the International Cycling Union ( UCI).

The Giro and the Vuelta should be organized after, but have not yet formalized their new dates. The UCI leaves itself until May 15 to set dates.

"Fifteen days of competition is more than enough for the fans to enjoy it, and for the Tour, the Giro and the Vuelta to get by (economically)," insisted the 2018 world champion on the road, who also agreed that "the Tour will always go first, of course".

Valverde also warned of the financial concerns that this health crisis could generate in cycling: "It is certain that the economy has fallen a lot, the professional peloton is suffering a lot", he said.

"There are several teams that have already used partial unemployment plans, some with reduced wages. (...) Not running is not good for sponsors," warned the runner, one of the deans of the professional peloton.

On the other hand, with regard to Movistar, Valverde wanted to reassure: "Everything is fine for us, there has been no salary cut. But I would like to return to normal, with protective and security measures , as quickly as possible, because otherwise it will become very significant economic chaos. "

© 2020 AFP