Javier Guigen, director of the Vuelta a España, said that the change in the Grand Tour schedule from August to November has created a period of negotiation with other races about how the change will affect the rest of the season.

It would be illogical for the Vuelta to be held on the same dates as before, which would clash with the Tour de France schedule change in late August by nearly 10 days. On Wednesday, the ASO and UCI announced that the 2020 Tour has been changed from August 29 to September 20.

Speaking to reporters via video conference, Guillen said Wednesday, "With this new scenario, we can work with the other events. [I can't say at the moment exactly when the Giro will end and the Vuelta will begin.

"But of course the panorama is clearer and we hope that by May 15 the new calendar starting August 1 will be fully resolved.

Since its first edition in 1935, which started in late April, the Vuelta a España has arguably been the most rescheduled Grand Tour in history: in 1948 it was held in June, in 1950 in August, and then in late April from the mid-1950s until 1994.

The first Grand Tour was held in 1948 in June.

The Vuelta was later changed to September in 1995 amid considerable controversy. Last year it started in Trevieja, southeastern Spain, on August 24, and this year it was scheduled to start in Utrecht on August 14.

However, this year's race will start in early November. This is the slowest start in Grand Tour history and is as unprecedented for the Vuelta as the Tour in late August or the Giro d'Italia in October.