AG2R La Mondiale's Alexis Vuillermoz already knows that he will be out of racing for at least a year before he can race again. The Frenchman's last race was the 2019 Tour de France, but a crash in training last August kept him out of action as the race was canceled due to the coronavirus crisis, although he was expected to return at this year's Volta a Catalunya.

Last season, Vuillermos was called up to the Tour at the last minute after riding the Giro d'Italia as AG2R leader, but suffered an asthma attack on stage 16 and was in the top 20 of the GC when he crashed and lost time, finishing 29th overall in Verona, Italy. He finished the race.

Last summer, the team was plagued by various injuries, especially Pierre Latour, who was unable to recover from his injury in time for the Tour.

However, during post-Tour training, Vuillermoz fell while avoiding an oncoming car and fractured his kneecap. This means that the 31-year-old Vuillermoz has not raced since last summer, and it will be a full 12 months before team racing resumes, although it is not known when he will return to racing.

Recovering from knee surgery last year, Vuillermoz began training again in January.

"For some weeks I ran 28 to 29 hours a week, a load I had never experienced in my career," he said. 'I was in good shape, didn't gain or lose any weight. I just wanted to get in the game right away."

However, just before returning to racing in Spain, Vuillermoz faced a coronavirus blockade in France.

"At first it was very frustrating, even though it was clearly the best decision I could have made. But to go more than a year without a race was something I had never imagined."

"I was very disappointed that I had to go so long without a race," he said.

"I was pushing myself a little too hard to resume racing in early March. I knew it was completely premature, but I wanted to race again. Not that I regret not doing so, but maybe deep down ......."

After being postponed, this year's Tour will now be held from August 29 to September 20.

"Even if we still don't know how the pandemic will develop, in my mind the Tour is the goal. I'm confident, and I'd love to plan something."

"Tools need to be preserved. Even if it has to be held in September when school starts and people go back to work," Buielmos said. 'People will still be able to enjoy it. But they also feel that it is still very risky to plan anything."

It is hoped that the Criterium du Dauphiné and other Tour preparation races will be held before La Grande Boucle, but the race could resume with a one-day race, Strade Bianche, on August 1.

"It certainly won't please everyone, but I don't mind," Vuillermoz said of the possibility of participating in the Tour without a race beforehand. 'We live in a special year and you have to know how to adapt to every situation.'