The “most complicated to organize” edition for Tour organizers

The Tour de France ends Sunday in Paris -

21st stages and three weeks to connect Nice to Paris.

The peloton is preparing on Sunday to complete the “most complicated to organize” edition of the Tour de France - health context requires - in the words of its deputy director Pierre-Yves Thouault, more specifically in charge of security.

"It was my 24th Tour and it was the hardest", declared Thouault, at the heart of the discussions from the outset with the French authorities for the two-month delay of the event, at the Grand Départ postponed from the 27 June to August 29.

“Today, it's easy to say that we could have left a little earlier.

But there was a sporting calendar to respect and we wanted, in agreement with the International Cycling Union (UCI), that the end of the Tour take place one week before the world championship ”, clarified Christian Prudhomme's deputy. in the direction of the Tour.

"But, it is true that when we see the situation, it was time to leave on August 29".

Work in good understanding

“To set up a health protocol, we had to convince all the stakeholders, the teams, the UCI and of course the competent authorities.

There was a kind of sacred union, but every day we had to adapt, ”he added.

The competent authorities?

“The Tour is authorized by the Ministry of the Interior.

On the Tour, the competent authorities are the Ministry of the Interior and the prefects, this year other interlocutors, the ARS (regional health authorities) and the Ministry of Health, have been added.

We worked with them on good terms, ”said the deputy director of the Tour.

"We had to convince everyone, but I believe that our work was praised by the highest authorities".

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