Maybe the weather will also be a factor. Ok, not a big one in the Tour, maybe no heatwave durning the 2nd week, but racing in Northern Spain at the start of November will be really different from the usual Vuelta weather.
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the UCI has released a protocol for the resumption of races a couple of days ago:For professionell cyclists strict testing could be enough, too, but I don't think the governements here care about that.
Most Colombians will take the flight mid-July, also Team Medellin (for example) will come over to Europe to race over here instead. So it is also expensive of course, but possible, and if they need to be tested by UCI guidelines anyway, this may also be enough to avoid quarantine (in some countries).The riders from North and Soutamerica will have some problems to travel to europe I think.
Racing in Europe should be possible this summer. In the US and Brazil they have other strategies (if we call call this a strategy..) and so I don't think european cyclist well be allowed to go there soon.
Looking at present word numbers in COVID-19 development I start to be very pessimistic again regarding the cycling races this year.
On one side I read that China started new strict measurements with less than 100 new cases (it means this virus is really serious) and on the other hand, I read about easing measurements in US with over 30 000 new daily cases- No face mask no social distancing. With border opening (because we cannot survive without one summer vacation by the sea) it means we are a few weeks from another lockdown.
I also think that the risk for infection in the peleton isn't very high.
I am talking about risks of catching the virus in the peloton, I am talking about the basic pandemic rules, almost 200 000 new daily cases in a day, and opening the air traveling in the same time. Yes, the mortality went down considerably but this is the disease we still know nothing about, midterm, and long term impact of the disease still have to be evaluated. Unfortunately, we live in a world of debts where we cannot stop "growing" for a few single months. Sooner or later our children and grandchildren will pay for it.
I am not in favor of total lockdown. But I assume that wearing the face mask, social distancing, restricting summer vacation traveling, avoiding the mass gathering could be handled for more than 2 months without economy collapsing.While I agree that our children and grandchildren will have to pay for a lot and that we live in a world of debts, it is not abnormal that we can not afford to not work for months. In fact throughout history there has hardly been a time when people could have done/ afforded what we did (in Europe) - or even cared. There have been lots of diseases and apart from the pestilence which had a letality of 40-100 % none made countries lockdown completely. It is rather abnormal that we can rely on the hope that there will be a vaccine or a treatment or both within years.
Regarding races: The biggest threat to them happening I think are notable outbreaks among the spectators in the first races. It seems the organizers are mostly determined to hold the races with spectators. And economically they are standing on shaky feet. Psychologically the will to return to normality is very strong now, so I don't think they will be completely cancelled, but they might be put under strict changed conditions so that organizers think it's not worth it.
Their situation was reportedly as safe as possible: no reported active Slovenian C19 cases and an entire race of locals. Haven's seen it yet if anyone has an English link, I'd appreciate it.Actually there is a National Champs Slovenian race is today in 2 hours (2PM). Check the thread about it here:
2020 National Championships
It has been almost three months since Quintana schooled his rivals while Schachmann hung on for the overall win on the Valdeblore La Colmiane in the race that refused to die while the rest of Europe was packing down quickly. But in 13 days, there will be another bike race, and no phoney virtual...forum.cyclingnews.com
Competing are (among othere):
Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma)
Tadej Pogacar and Jan Polanc (UAE)
Luka Mezgec (Michelton Scott)
Matej Mohoric, Jan Tratnik, Domen Novak and Luka Pibernik (all Bahrain Merida)
Their situation was reportedly as safe as possible: no reported active Slovenian C19 cases and an entire race of locals. Haven's seen it yet if anyone has an English link, I'd appreciate it.
On 19 of July Bernal and the other Colombians athletes travel to Europe. Hope for a good pilot. If something happens to that plane there goes Colombian cycling.
Don't -
okay, I'm not superstitious. But since things like that have really happened, the thought is a little scary.