Critérium du Dauphiné postponed as UCI suspends racing for a further month

The UCI made the decision due to the ‘severity of the health situation throughout the world’

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The Critérium du Dauphiné has now been postponed as the UCI has announced the cycling calendar will now be suspended for a further month.

Cycling’s international governing body announced last month that all racing would be stopped until at least the end of April because of the global spread of coronavirus, resulting in the postponement of dozens of prestigious races.

But as Covid-19 continues to cause upheaval in all aspects of life, the UCI has now confirmed that racing will not restart until June 1 at the earliest.

In response to the decision, the organiser of the Dauphiné, scheduled to run from May 31, confirmed the race has been called off.

A statement from ASO said: “The organisers of the Critérium du Dauphiné, in agreement with the UCI, the Auvergne-Rhône, Alpes Region and other involved parties, have decided to begin working to reschedule the race, originally scheduled to start from Clermont-Ferrand on the May 31 and run through to the June 7.

“The organisers would like to thank the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region and all of the race partners for their understanding and their support as they work towards finding a new date for one of the most greatest races in the international cycling calendar.”

The next major races still currently scheduled to run at the Tour de Suisse for the men on June 7 and the rescheduled Trofeo Alfredo Binda for the women on June 2.

ASO has not yet made a decision on the fate of the Tour de France, but on Thursday (April 2) Tour director Christian Prudhomme said he is working on rearranging the dates for the three-week race.

France's sports minister previously said the Tour could be held behind closed doors, but Prudhomme has now shot down that idea.

He added that riders must be able to train by the end of April for the Tour to go ahead on its scheduled date of June 27.

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The UCI also said it has received more than 450 requests from race organisers on the postponement of their events.

A statement from the organisation said: “In this extremely difficult context, the UCI – as cycling’s world body – will continue its consultations with the different families to find the best solutions for our sport. In this period of widespread incertitude, which is weakening the financial situation of all involved, the UCI again calls on everyone to be united, responsible and strong.”

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Alex Ballinger

Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers.  Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.