Tour de France's fate hangs in the balance

Cycling awaits crucial decision

- Vern Pitt

The fate of the 2020 Tour de France hangs in the balance as last week a range of conflicting reports on the likelihood of the race going ahead emerged as the coronavirus pandemic ground on.

A decision on whether the race – due to start on June 27 – will proceed is set to be made next month.

There have been contrasting messages in recent weeks. Initially it seemed that the Tour might be able to take place without spectators – similarly to how Paris-Nice finished – after French sports minister, Roxana Mărăcineanu suggested as such. The main revenue from the race is the TV rights, so in principle it was plausible.