Tour de France start date pushed back

This file photo taken on July 3, 2019 shows the logo of the Tour de France in Brussels centre, three days prior to the start of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race. The Tour de France is not only a French monument, but also the economic heartbeat of professional cycling itself and analysts fear heavy consequences if the coronavirus crisis forces its cancellation. An announcement is expected this week on either a postponement or an outright cancellation of the 21-day extravaganza that is currently scheduled to start in Nice on June 27. PHOTO | JEFF PACHOUD |

By  AFP

What you need to know:

  • The Danish organisers didn't expect any changes to the planned routes, but according to the statement they would now begin talks with the eight municipalities that the race would cross.
  • "There is full support for the postponement from the five Danish finish and starting cities," the statement said.

COPENHAGEN

The planned start of the Tour de France from Copenhagen, scheduled for 2021, has been pushed back to 2022 to avoid an overlap of sporting events disrupted by Covid-19, the city's mayor said Monday.

The postponement would avoid a clash with the Tokyo Olympics and the European football championship, for which Copenhagen is one of the host cities, according to a statement from the Danish organisers.

Also Read

"I'm glad that we managed to secure a Danish start of the Tour in 2022. We are many who have looked forward to getting Tour de France in Denmark next year, and now we unfortunately have to wait a little longer," Copenhagen mayor Frank Jensen said.

After being unable to agree on a starting date for 2021, the race's organiser, Amaury Sport Organisation, offered to postpone the Danish start until 2022, which the Danish organisers agreed to.

The three Danish legs, starting in Copenhagen followed by two legs crossing the country, will be held on July 1-3 2022.

The Danish organisers didn't expect any changes to the planned routes, but according to the statement they would now begin talks with the eight municipalities that the race would cross.

"There is full support for the postponement from the five Danish finish and starting cities," the statement said.

In the headlines