Should Grand Tours be shortened to two weeks? UCI president says he'll consider the idea

UCI president David Lappartient says he's open-minded about shortening cycling's most prestigious races

Rigoberto Uran, Romain Bardet, and Chris Froome cross the line at the end of stage 18 of the Tour de France

(Image credit: ASO/Alex Broadway)

We might naturally think of the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, and Vuelta a España as being 21 stages and three weeks in length, but the president of the UCI thinks that the world of cycling should be open to the prospect of reducing the length of the most prestigious stage races.

David Lappartient, who was elected to his position in September, said that although he would not force the Grand Tours, particularly the Vuelta a España, to reduce their lengths, he would still be open to discussing the idea.

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Henry Robertshaw began his time at Cycling Weekly working with the tech team, writing reviews, buying guides and appearing in videos advising on how to dress for the seasons. He later moved over to the news team, where his work focused on the professional peloton as well as legislation and provision for cycling. He's since moved his career in a new direction, with a role at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.