'A light at the end of the tunnel': Peloton reacts as Tour de France 2020 is postponed
Chris Froome, Greg Van Avermaet and Julian Alaphilippe have all shared their thoughts


The bittersweet news that the Tour de France will be postponed has been met by a mixture of hope and scepticism.
Coronavirus has caused chaos around the world, with many people questioning whether life will return to normal in time for racing to return as planned in the summer.
On Wednesday (April 15), Tour de France organiser ASO announced that the race would not start on the planned date of June 28, but would instead run from August 29 until September 20.
The postponement of the biggest race in the world is obviously huge news for both fans and the peloton, so how are the pros reacting to the news?
Chris Froome, the Team Ineos leader and four-time Tour winner said on Twitter: “I’m seeing a lot of negativity and despondency on my timeline, I know this period has been tough on all of us and bike racing is not important in the greater scheme of things.
“But lets take hope in that we may return to some sort of normality in the near future.”
Along with the postponement of the Tour, the UCI announced an outline for a new cycling calendar, with the World Championships scheduled to run in their scheduled spot in later September, with the Giro d’Italia to follow and then the Vuelta a España.
Cycling’s five major one-day races, the Monuments, will also take place this year the UCI said, with the dates yet to be confirmed.
Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck – Quick-Step), the winner of the 2019 Milan-San Remo who held the Tour’s yellow jersey for two weeks, said: “I’m really happy to finally have a calendar, to see that races like the Tour de France, the Worlds, and the Monuments are planned to go ahead. It’s a light at the end of the tunnel, which is something good for the morale in times like these as it gives you an extra boost to work harder in order to be fit for when the moment will come to be again with my teammates.”
Alaphilippe said he will discuss his options with his team, and that he hopes to return to training with clear goals on the horizon.
Deceuninck – Quick-Step team boss Patrick Lefevere added: “I am happy that we have more or less a schedule and that it includes all the big events.
“Some other races are very likely to take place in early August to give riders the opportunity to arrive in a good condition at the start of Le Tour, which will also be of importance.
“Of course, it depends from country to country, but the riders could have the possibility to run an intense training program in July, before resuming racing, so that they are fit until the end of the season.”
>>> Geraint Thomas kicks of mammoth 12-hour Zwift rides as fundraising hits £80
Classics specialist Greg Van Avermaet (CCC Team) said: “It can still change as it depends on how the virus develops but I think for us riders, it’s really important that we have certain dates in our head where you see big races popping up. I think mentally that’s the most important thing and for sponsors, they can see an end [to the non-racing period] and when we can start riding again. So this helps us both ways.
“It takes a few weeks to really get to a competition level but I think it is good now to know so we can also relax a little bit more, knowing when races will start so you don’t have to train that much anymore and then build up towards some smaller races and then the Tour de France."
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
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.
-
-
Tour de France packs up for the long drive home
Race waves goodbye to Denmark and gets ready to move everything to Calais for race restart on Tuesday
By Simon Richardson • Published
-
Tour de France 2022 standings: who is leading the race after stage three?
Who is on the top step at the 109th edition of the race?
By Rob Spedding • Published
-
No Mark Cavendish or Julian Alaphilippe at Tour de France for Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl
Fabio Jakobsen selected as team's sprinter for the race which begins on Friday in Copenhagen
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Julian Alaphilippe expected to miss the Tour de France
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl set to leave out the two-time world champion
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
'I'm trying to get back to my old self again' — Chris Froome achieves his best result since 2019 horror crash
Chris Froome finished 11th at the Mercan Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes on Tuesday, his best result for almost three years
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Julian Alpahilippe returns to training, but Tour de France participation still in doubt
Quick-Step say Frenchman's punctured lung is fully healed
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Julian Alaphilippe 'moving in the right direction' after heavy crash at Liège
World champion to have tests to decide shape of season
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Julian Alaphilippe out of Liège-Bastogne-Liège after a huge crash
The French world champion is reported to be conscious but in an ambulance after the incident
By Owen Rogers • Published
-
Chris Froome: Being competitive at Tour de France would be a 'dream scenario'
The Israel-Premier Tech rider on being back at his normal level, appreciating his past, and aiming to have form late into the season
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Chris Froome set for 2022 race debut in Italy
The four-time Tour de France winner will return to racing at the Coppi e Bartali next week
By Richard Windsor • Published