Paris (AFP)

French professional cycling welcomed the green light given for the resumption of individual training by the announcement of Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, without dwelling unduly on the limit of 5000 people who should touch the races until September, start of Tour de France included.

"What matters, with the control of the pandemic, is first of all to train and to resume competitions as normally as possible," said Marc Madiot, president of the National Cycling League and responsible for the Groupama-FDJ team. He called the Prime Minister's announcement "an encouraging sign".

"Our riders will be able to ride outside and this is rather good news for the world of cycling. For their part, demand was starting to be strong," added Cédric Vasseur, his Cofidis counterpart.

"It is not yet won," said the ex-yellow jersey of the Tour, however. "The error would be to think that everything could resume as before. But everyone will be able to redo their profession with a whole series of measures to be put in place to protect the athletes and the staffs".

For the post-May 11 period, the Prime Minister's announcement paves the way for the resumption of individual road training. The French Cycling Federation (FFC) voted last Saturday for this option and considered it "unthinkable" that the restrictions on individual cycling could last beyond May 11.

- "Another vision than the bottom of the garage" -

"Our athletes will have a different vision than the bottom of their garage, it is important for them and also for all the people who want to play sports", appreciated Vincent Lavenu, the boss of the AG2R La Mondiale team. Without, however, planning too soon on the future and the procedure for internships with reduced staff: "We will do it when it is authorized."

For the 5,000 people maximum gauge set by Edouard Philippe at the various events, "it seems reasonable and responsible to me," said Marc Madiot.

This ceiling, which should affect the Dauphiné (probably scheduled for August) and also the first three stages of the Tour de France (departure on August 29 in Nice), was already applied during the first stage of Paris-Nice last month in the Yvelines. The rest of the event then gave rise to a sort of closed door, that is to say the absence of spectators in the start and finish areas.

"Today, there is an opening," said Vincent Lavenu. "It allows you to move forward step by step and it can change over time. We are lucky to be an outdoor sport, we are not the sport with the worst prospects."

© 2020 AFP