Paris (AFP)
Big names in the peloton including Chris Froome, Nairo Quintana and Romain Bardet will take part in a virtual charity Tour de France in July, Tour organizer ASO announced on Tuesday.
Cyclists from 23 male and 16 female teams will race, over three weekends in July, six long stages from 22.9 to 48 kilometers on the Zwift platform, four of which are inspired by the routes of the real Tour de France.
The kick-off will be given on July 4, in a setting inspired by Nice, the city where the real Grande Boucle will start on August 29. The arrival on virtual Champs-Elysées will be on July 19, the day after the main "mountain stage", with an arrival at Chalet-Reynard on Mont Ventoux.
Unlike the real Tour, the riders are not required to run each stage, and the wearer of the yellow, green, white or polka dot jersey will be able to give it to a teammate.
ASO announces, among the participants, Egan Bernal, Geraint Thomas, Christopher Froome, Julian Alaphilippe, Richie Porte, Greg Van Avermaet, Mathieu Van der Poel, Nairo Quintana, Mads Pedersen, Warren Barguil and Romain Bardet in men.
For women, the organizer announces the presence of Chloé Dygert, Anna van der Breggen, Chantal Blaak, Marianne Vos, Coryn Rivera, Marta Bastianelli, Lisa Brennauer, Kirsten Wild, Elisa Balsamo, Tiffany Cromwell, Lizzie Deignan and Audrey Cordon-Ragot .
The funds collected will be donated to associations.
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