Scheduled this Saturday in Nice, the start of the Tour de France 2020 will only be on August 29. So while waiting for the event, the runners train by identifying the particularly mountainous route of this already very special edition. 

Two more months to wait. It must have been a special Saturday for the cycling world, since it was on June 27 that the Tour de France 2020 was to set off from Nice to reach Paris on July 19. But the coronavirus went through there, and the Great Loop was postponed from August 29 to September 20. Yet the cyclists are far from turning their thumbs, and prepare for the event as best as possible.

Alaphilippe spotting the Col de la Loze

This photo, taken at the top of the Col de la Loze in the Alps, shows Julian Alaphilippe and two teammates. "A beautiful day to work well" which served in particular to identify this unprecedented alpine arrival for the next Tour de France. 

Another great day to work well. A sacred final at the top of the Col de la Loze pic.twitter.com/aXRSG4TgfV

- Julian Alaphilippe Official (@ alafpolak1) June 24, 2020

Guillaume Martin assaulting the Grand Colombier

Like the double stage winner last summer, many runners are organizing to recognize the particularly mountainous route of the Great Loop this year. Guillaume Martin, leader of Cofidis training, for example climbed alone with his trainer Le Grand Colombier, in the Jura. And he is very motivated: "Training has resumed very intensely, and if he had a competition tomorrow I'm ready to give a bib!" he affirms at the microphone of Europe 1. "It may be the call of the initial dates of the Tour, but in any case I am in a hurry to fight it out."

Colombian Egan Bernal expected in Europe mid-July

The last winner of the event, Egan Bernal is expected in mid-July in Europe with other Colombian runners to rub with bitumen. A special flight has been planned while their country is experiencing an outbreak of coronavirus cases.

And the riders are not the only ones to prepare, since in anticipation of the resumption of major competitions in August, the international cycling union has just published a protocol of good conduct. Each formation will have to isolate itself and enter into "team bubbles" which, at the time of the race, will merge to constitute a "peloton bubble".