Coronavirus Tour de Beauce and Tour de Gatineau postponed

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Coronavirus Tour de Beauce and Tour de Gatineau postponed

Organizers of Canada's UCI 2.2 men's Tour de Beauce and UCI 1.1 women's Tour de Gatineau and Chrono Feminine de la Gatineau have decided to postpone the 2020 event due to a new coronavirus pandemic.

The Tour de Gatineau and Chrono women were scheduled to take place on June 4 and 5, and the Tour de Beauce men from June 17 to 21.

The UCI extended the suspension of all road races and other events until Monday, June 1, in order to create a new post-cobid 19 calendar for the second half of the season.

Despite the fact that Canadian events are outside this suspension period, Cycling Canada has recommended that all events be postponed until June 14, based on the Canadian government's tightened regulations against pandemics.

"In order to continue to support public health officials' efforts to minimize transmission of the virus and to reduce pressure on athletes and members, Cycling Canada is now postponing all cycling events on the Cycling Canada calendar until June 14 or cancelled," reads a statement posted on the Cycling Canada website.

Cycling Canada will give highest priority to rescheduling national championships, UCI sanctioned events, and national calendar events, in that order. However, any competitions scheduled on dates included in the resumed season will have the right to maintain their place on the calendar and their official recognition, subject to UCI approval.

"All organizers who decide to postpone a competition will be asked to submit two (2) requested dates for postponement. Cycling Canada cannot guarantee that the dates presented will be acceptable, but will make every effort to accommodate them when the 2020 season resumes."

The Tour de Gatineau and Chrono Feminine de la Gatineau took over the Grand Prix Cycliste Gatineau, which ran from 2010 to 2019. These two world-class one-day races have become the most important women's road cycling events in Canada during the season.

Last year, Leah Kirchman (Sunweb/Canada) won the Grand Prix Gatineau and Amber Neben (Cogeas Mettler-Look) won the Chrono Gatineau for the second straight year.

"The Tour de Gatineau organization is committed to working closely with the cycling governing body as well as municipal, state and federal partners to monitor the situation and reschedule the 2020 event," organizers said in a press release Friday.

"Public health remains our top priority, and as such, all decisions regarding the rescheduling of the Games will be made within the guidelines outlined by public health officials. 21]

" We thank all our supporters who have supported us during this difficult time and are optimistic that our event will once again unite world-class women cyclists in the wake of this global pandemic."

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Now in its 35th year, the Tour de Beauce is the longest running UCI men's stage race in the country and annually attracts top riders and teams from around the world.

Last year, Brendan Lim (Arapahoe/Hincapie p/b BMC) won the Tour de Bose overall.

"The event, which attracts riders from more than 20 countries each time, cannot be prepared for or held on the originally planned dates (June 17-21)," the organizers said in a press release issued last week.

"The organization is currently working with its partners on alternative dates before postponing it to 2021. A final decision will be announced shortly."

"The organization is also working with the National Association for the Advancement of the Arts to develop an alternative date for the event.

The Tour de Beauce organization has also scheduled the Canadian road championships for elite, junior, and paracycling for June 25-28, but a decision on this event will be made at a later date, in cooperation with Cycling Canada.

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