Marc Madiot, manager of Groupama-FDJ, added his voice to the considerable backlash against the French sports minister, saying he was "stunned" by her recent comments that "sport is not a priority in our society."

Roxana Maracinéanu caused quite a stir Wednesday evening when she appeared on Eurosport's Le Club program and insisted that even if the Tour de France and other events do not take place this year, it "will not be the end of the world."

Speaking to the French news agency AFP, Madiot said he was "surprised, almost stunned" by Malassine's comments.

"It is hard to believe that these words came from a sports minister who exists to defend sport. Sport is an important economic driver. Not only professional athletes, but many families live for sport. In cycling, for example, it also concerns bicycle manufacturers."

Malachineanu was not optimistic about the return of professional sports this year. She mentioned a return date of mid-June, a month after the proposed lifting of the lockdown, but warned that it would not happen without tests and other health resources in place.

She also suggested that the ban on public sports, which is supposed to last until mid-July, be extended "until a vaccine is found," "at least until September," and possibly beyond.

Such a scenario would pose problems for the Tour, which has been rescheduled from August 29 to September 20 after race director Christian Prudhomme ruled out a closed-door event.

However, what put Maratineanu in a bind was her insistence: "In our society, sport is not a priority. In today's government decisions, sport is not a priority."

Two of her predecessors also had the same words for the sports newspaper L'Equipe: "A minister in charge of sports should not say such things."

One added: "It gives the impression of a completely fatalistic minister, and in politics fatalism is death."

Senator Patrick Caner, who served as Minister of Sports under President François Hollande, added: "I think it's a very good thing that the president of the United States is not a fatalist. She must defend the sporting world and fight for its priorities."

Along with tennis' Roland Garros, another anonymous government source responded critically to L'Equipe for the statement that it would not be "the end of the world" if the Tour did not take place this year.

"That comment is misguided. If the Tour does not take place, it is overly serious. It's like tennis, there is an ecosystem around the Tour, and it can't function without that source of income."

In response to the backlash, Marassineau sought to clarify his comments and defend his position by issuing a statement on Thursday.

"Of all the challenges facing our society, clearly the revival of sports is a major theme. We have been working on it every day for weeks. But my health remains my top priority," she said.

"I have always believed that sports play a major role in our society, and this crisis has only strengthened that conviction. The revival of sports is essential to the revival of everyday life. But let us maintain clarity and perseverance. Because our priority today is the health of the French people."

Cyclingnews contacted ASO but received no comment.