Copenhagen (AFP)
The mayor of Copenhagen is in discussions with the organizers of the Tour de France to postpone, probably for a year, the start of the biggest cycling race, which was to start from the Danish capital in 2021, he said. announced Friday.
"It is more and more likely that it will be in 2022 (...) and more and more improbable for 2021", declared the mayor Frank Jensen in an interview with Danish television DR.
Due to the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics and Euro 2020 until next year, the Tour de France 2021 straddles two major sporting events. However Copenhagen also co-organizes the Euro football that poses too important problems for the city.
"If this were to take place in 2021, it would be very complicated, it would be at the same time as Euro football, where we will have four matches in Copenhagen," said Frank Jensen.
The councilor acknowledged that this postponement would result in "an additional bill" for his city for the benefit of ASO, the organizer of the Tour. Discussions on this compensation "began yesterday (Thursday)" and "we are discussing with ASO and our partners" on the terms and amount of this compensation, he said.
"But it is out of the question that the Tour does not come to Copenhagen or Denmark, it will come," Jensen assured.
Besides the big start in Copenhagen scheduled for July 2, 2021 with a time trial in the center of the city, two other Danish stages were scheduled for the Tour 2021 on July 3 and 4, in a country very fond of cycling and bicycle travel.
© 2020 AFP