PARIS (FRANCE) – The International Cycling Union said next year’s Tour de France has been postponed by a week to avoid coinciding with the men’s road race at the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics.
The even is slated to begin on June 26 and end on July 18, six days before the Mount Fuji road race. It was actually scheduled for July 2 in the Danish capital of Copenhagen.
The Games, which were scheduled for July 24-Aug. 9 this year was postponed by a year because of the spread of the pandemic.
“With the Tokyo Olympic Games being held from July 23 to Aug. 8 2021, the dates of several events have been adapted,” the UCI said in a statemen.
“It is of note that to avoid an overlapping of the Olympic road cycling races (July 24, 25 and 28) with the Tour de France (initially envisaged for July 2-25), the French stage race will finish on July 18, the weekend before the first weekend of the Olympics.”
The Tour of California and the RideLondon-Surrey Classic would not feature in the revised calendar containing 35 events.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
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