In the same line as shows, the sport world is badly impacted by the coronavirus related health crisis as it’s spreading across the world. So far, 416,916 people have been reportedly infected by COVID-19 and 2.6 billion people are confined across the globe.
Amid this coronavirus pandemic, many events have been cancelled or even postponed such as UEFA Euro postponed to 2021 and more recently the Tokyo Olympics postponed to summer 2021.
Another unmissable sporting event is jeopardized as well: the Tour de France officially said to take place from June 27th to July 19th, 2020.
As Sport Minister Roxana Maracineanu said on France Bleu radio, “all scenarios are being considered” before adding that “talks are being held with ASO (the organizer – Editor’s Note) and it’s still too early to decide on it”.
Among the scenarios considered, the Tour de France could happen in-camera, that is to say with no spectators lining the roads. “The economic model of the Tour de France doesn’t rely on tickets but TV rights and media streaming. In this confinement period, everyone is aware and responsible. Everyone understood the advantages of staying home and to privilege televised show over live show. At the end of the day, it wouldn’t be so disadvantageous since we could follow the competition on television” the Minister of Sport explained.
Another trail imagined by Roxana Maracineanu? A Tour de France that would take place without spectators excluding departures and arrivals of the competitors and in the cols.
Interviewed by our peeras at La Montagne, Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme doesn't seem to agree, explaining that "The Tour de France will not happen in cameras". To the Agence France Presse, Christian Prudhomme confirmed Tour de France dates are the same as scheduled. "But it would be a lie to say we are not studying other options as for dates" he added. "We want to let a two-month window to racing cyclists". Christian Prudhomme said.
For the record, the Tour de France attracts along the French roads between 10 and 12 million curious every year.
