Although the dates are only tentative and will depend on how effective national and global strategies are in the fight against the COVID-19 coronavirus, there is a glimmer of hope in the professional cycling world as ASO announced plans to host the Tour de France later in the year. The traditional June Grande Parle has been moved to August 29, and with cycling's other two Grand Tours in rapid succession, teams and riders now have the possibility to plan for the second half of the year.

For Mitchelton-Scott senior director sportif Matt White, that means scheduling roster riders.

However, the Australian rider is optimistic about the new Tour schedule.

"If we make it, I'll be relieved," White told Cycling News from his home in Spain.

"Positive thinking is great and it's great to have something planned, but it's also out of our control. Staying in the country will help keep the virus at bay, but if we don't reduce our numbers, it will be difficult to stick to that schedule. Still, it is great that there is a silver lining at the end of the tunnel for the players.

"Most of our plans went out the window. About 85% of the team has been out of action for six weeks and only five or six are able to train on the road. They are on home trainers, increasing intensity, decreasing volume, and staying relatively fit. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks they will be able to go on an expedition ......"

Mitch.

For most teams, not just Mitchelton-Scott, the regrouped season revolves around the Tour de France.

The Tour de France is the only race with a schedule agreed upon with the UCI.

White believes that the Tour de France will be the most competitive race ever because of its unique circumstances.

"By the time the Tour comes around, everyone will have been on the road for a month or two, but it's going to be a very competitive season, and I don't think many leaders will say they're going to wait for the Vuelta in November, so I think it will be the most competitive field in Tour de France history. I think it's going to be the most competitive field in the history of the Tour de France," White noted.

"Each team will field the strongest possible lineup for the Tour, and they will back that lineup up with different riders for the Giro. A lot of riders will do the Tour and the Giro, and I think we'll see a completely different winner in the Vuelta...Some riders may not want to be in the Grand Tour in November, and I could be wrong, but what I really want to see is what happens in smaller races like Denmark, Hamburg, and Bink Bank. White has not yet decided how he will distribute the Grand Tour riders this season.

Initially, Simon Yates was to compete in the Giro d'Italia and his brother Adam in the Tour de France. Esteban Chaves (currently under house arrest in Colombia) was targeting the Olympics before the Games were postponed. White is eager to see the details of the new calendar before deciding on a team plan.

"Several races have tentatively been scheduled for August, including the Tirreno-Adriatico as a prelude to the Tour de France. The calendar is starting to come into view, but until we see the final version and until the riders can get back on the road, we are still in limbo. Once we see the plan and the schedule, we'll be able to work with the athletes on a plan

"In terms of peaks, I think everyone will be ready for the race.

The financial pressure on the teams and sponsors is starting to ease a bit now that the race dates are starting to be set.

Several teams, including Mitchelton Scott, have been forced to take pay cuts in order to survive. The global economic situation will likely have a greater impact on the teams as opposed to whether the bike race will be held, but even the start of a new race calendar is the beginning of something promising.

"It would be a positive thing if it were to take place; the exposure to sponsors from July through November would certainly soften the blow," White said.

"And it's a blow that everyone feels to some degree. All firms are feeling the pinch. The rider market is also very quiet, but many teams are worried about the situation in 2021. I hope all the teams can get through this."