ASO has announced that the postponed 2020 Tour de France will be rescheduled from August 29 to September 20.France Télévisions, the national broadcast partner of the ASO event, broke the news in its Journal des 13 heures bulletin (opens in new tab) Following an interview with Tour director Christian Prudhomme, Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-QuickStep), who wore the maillot jaune for 14 days at last year's Tour, winning two stages and finishing fifth overall, reacted immediately. reacted immediately.

"Super news. I was very happy yesterday evening to hear that the Tour de France is still going to take place, because I had almost lost a little bit of hope with the current situation," Alaphilippe told France Télévisions via Skype from his home in Andorra.

"Now that the dates have been set, I am motivated and I think it will bring a lot of joy to the French people. One way or another, I hope it will."

France is currently in lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, with more than 15,000 COVID-19 deaths reported. Earlier this week, President Emmanuel Macron announced that the current lockdown would be extended until May 11 and all public gatherings would be suspended until at least mid-July.

On Tuesday, the ASO officially announced its intention to hold the race in the fall for the first time in Tour history, after acknowledging that it is no longer possible to hold the Tour on the originally scheduled dates of June 27-July 19.

The last time the Tour Grand Depart was held was in 1908 and 1998, when it started on July 13. The most recent finish was in 1908, when Lucien Petit-Breton won for the second time in Paris on August 9.

Traditionally a summer celebration centered around the French holiday season, which begins in earnest before Bastille Day on July 14, the 2020 Tour (if it indeed takes place) will have a more autumnal feel, even before considering measures to reduce social distance, The number of fans along the route would certainly decrease.

The rescheduled 2020 Tour will start in Nice on August 29 and finish on the Champs-Elysées on September 20.

"It will simply be good to have the Tour de France, although it is only part of the result of the long restraint we are experiencing now," Alaphilippe said.

"There may be fewer spectators on the road and on TV because the kids are going back to school, but there will be just as much joy. It will be a big party because the Tour de France is part of France and everyone will be happy that the Tour de France is happening."

Alaphilippe last competed in Paris-Nice in March, finishing 16th overall in the final World Tour race held before the cycling season was interrupted by a coronavirus outbreak.

The UCI announced Wednesday that all competition would be suspended until at least July 1, but Alaphilippe expressed hope that he might be able to return before the end of the year.

Alaphilippe lives in Andorra, where, as in France, training outdoors is prohibited.

"I keep my doors locked, so I train indoors. I'm hoping to get back to riding outside and start living a normal life again."