French Youth and Sports Minister Roxana Marassineanu told French media that this year's Tour de France could be held behind closed doors without fans.

However, according to L'Equipe, Marassineanu warned that although various scenarios are being discussed with Tour organizer ASO, it is still too early to make a firm decision on the race, which runs from June 27 to July 19, with the coronavirus outbreak being everyone's primary concern He warned that it is still too early to make a firm decision on the race, which will run from June 27 to July 19, with the coronavirus outbreak being everyone's primary concern.

"The economic model of the Tour de France is based on TV rights, not on ticket sales," Malassine told the French radio network France Bleu on Wednesday.

"Everyone is very careful and aware during this period of confinement. 'Everyone understands that they have to stay home, so they don't attend live events, they watch TV. As a result, it won't be too difficult to have to watch the Tour on TV (instead of from the roadside)."

Malachineanu also told the media on Monday that he hoped that an event of such national importance as the Tour would continue in some form. Then, with the announcement this week that the Olympics would be postponed, the European soccer championships already postponed until 2021, and cycling's Giro d'Italia in May postponed, many would have expected this year's Tour to do the same. [On Wednesday, however, former UCI president Brian Cookson told Cycling News that the Tour, as well as the other two Grand Tours, the Giro and the Vuelta a España, could be shortened from the usual three weeks to two weeks. The shortened Tour could be held in late July or August.

Malachineanu later reiterated on Twitter that it was still too early to make a firm decision on what would happen regarding the Tour.

"The Tour is a monument to sport. It is too early to decide. There is a time for everything. There are more urgent battles to fight now. Let's put all our energy into climbing that mountain before we tackle the next one."[13