2020, a new cycling season gathered over four months

Text by: Farid Achache Follow

The Management Committee of the International Cycling Union (UCI) approved the reprogramming of several cycling races on June 10 and 11. Between August and November, the tests will follow one another at a crazy speed for the greatest pleasure of the amateurs of the Little Queen. For teams, it will be a real headache for participating in several major events at the same time.

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As with all sports, the Covid-19 pandemic has turned the world of cycling upside down. Since Paris-Nice last March, where no spectator was now admitted 300 meters from the podium during arrivals and 100 meters when departing, no more cycling races have taken place.

After several months of stopping, the season will start off on a high note this summer in Europe. The legendary Milan-San Remo classic will take place on August 8, and will mark the return of the Monuments *. Then, the races will be linked and sometimes overlap.

A"Super Sunday"cycling on October 25

The Tour of Lombardy, which was first postponed to October 31, will be contested on August 15. This other Cycling Monument, usually the last of the season, will take place a week after Milan-San Remo and at the same time as the Critérium du Dauphiné, from 12 to 16 August. Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Tour of Flanders will take place on October 2 and 16.

On October 25, we can follow the last stage of the Tour of Italy, the 6th stage of the Tour of Spain (Vuelta) and Paris-Roubaix at the same time. “  It will be especially a" Super Sunday "of cycling. You have to imagine the bike fan ! He will almost have to have three TVs at home,  ”says Marc Madiot, manager of the Groupama-FDJ team on the training website. Due to the congestion of the races, some organizers have even announced the cancellation of their event. Flanders Classics made this decision for À Travers la Flandre, a traditional semi-classic preparation for the Tour of Flanders.

"  Throughout this period, I think we will have to appreciate the flavor of the race rather than highlight the drawbacks that we may encounter at certain times,  " says Marc Madiot. “  For me it will not change much in terms of the density of the program. It is only offbeat,  ”says runner Nicolas Roche, from the Sunweb team.

All the organizers hope for the best runners

A calendar picked up at the end of the year should still give headaches to sports managers for the composition of teams. Some major events like the Tour of Italy could take place without real headliners.

"  We can't multiply the best runners !" With this concentration of races, it's really a special year. Basically, the World Tour (19 first division teams, editor's note) is the best teams with the best riders,  ”explains Jean-René Bernaudeau. Adding: "  The program is immense, in particular for the French teams (Groupama FDJ and AG2R La Mondiale, Cofidis) who must participate in World Tour competitions, but who must not drop other organizations on French territory either, by solidarity. It's going to be complicated to manage. Trials will be favored when others will not . "

“  With around 30 runners, the World Tour teams have the capacity to make the calendar. The problem is that all the organizers want headliners. I imagine everyone will want Peter Sagan !  "Says Nicolas Roche. The Franco-Irish could take part in his tenth Tour de France, set from August 29 to September 16. And then a second three-week race with the Vuelta from October 18 to November 8.

* the term “monuments” designates the five most prestigious classics, namely Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Tour of Lombardy.

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