UCI sticks to plan: World Championship time trial on Tour de France final day
Saturday, June 27, 2020 at 1:30 PM
The program of the World Cycling Championships in Switzerland ensures that time trial specialists face a difficult choice. On the crowded calendar this fall, the global title battle overlaps with other important races. For example, the World Championships time trial this year will be held on the same day as the final day of the Tour de France.
Last year the World Cup opened with the Mixed Team Relay. In order to give this discipline more prestige, it was decided in September to switch places with the individual time trials, which were then held in the middle of the week. Although it was expected in the peloton that the UCI – due to the rescheduled calendar due to the coronavirus – would still reverse these two dates, the UCI confirms to WielerFlits that the original schedule will be maintained. As a result, a number of specialists this year will have to choose between (the final day of) the Tour de France and the World Time Trial Championships.
Line by account Team Jumbo-Visma
This means that Team Jumbo-Visma, among others, will have to reconsider its plans. The team recently indicated that with Tom Dumoulin, Primoz Roglic, Tony Martin and Wout van Aert (if selected) they wanted to specifically focus on the individual World Time Trial. However, the aforementioned quartet is part of the selection of Team Jumbo-Visma for the Tour de France. The team has informed us that this foursome is therefore not available for the World Championships time trial.
Mixed Team Relay
The place on the calendar of the Mixed Team Relay also creates complications. After all, the Belgian Championship is organized the day before in Belgium. “The plan was to put together a top team,” Belgian coach Rik Verbrugghe tells Het Nieuwsblad. “That had given us a great chance for a medal. But I assume that both men and women will prefer the national title fight. ”
Program World Cycling Championships 2020 in Aigly – Martigny
Sun 20-9: Time trial elite men
Mo 21-9: Time trial elite women
Mon 21-9: Time trial promises men
Tue 22-9: Time trial juniors women
Tue 22-9: Time trial juniors men
Wed 23-9: Team Time Trial (Mixed Team Relay)
Fr 25-9: Road race promises men
Fr 25-9: Road race juniors women
Sat 9/26: Road race elite women
Sun 27-9: Road race elite men
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