Isn’t the Tour considered a (sporting) institution? Well, in this bleak season, do you want a few kind souls to get the idea to say… see you next year? No, the show must go on, come what may.
Besides, the mayor of Nice, who swiftly canceled the major sports events of the autumn—Ironman and Triathlon, the Nice-Cannes marathon—couldn’t do the same with the TDF after investing over 5 million euros to negotiate with ASO the Grand Départ, three days of sport and carnival.
The pandemic has thrown a wrench in the works but… we move forward even if the conditions won’t be optimal.
“The health protocol will be strict,” announced in unison the mayor of Nice and the race director Christian Prudhomme during a press briefing.
To lay the groundwork, Christian Estrosi had—yesterday—asked the Prefect to make mask-wearing mandatory throughout the city and no longer just in the busiest areas. Unfortunately, people’s behavior and the lack of enforcement render these measures more theoretical than effective.
Regarding the specific measures for the Tour de France, Christian Prudhomme explains that the Tour will be exemplary in this matter. “Since April, we have been working with local authorities, sports bodies, and state services,” he declares. “Everything is in place for things to go well.”
Before the competition, all organizers and accredited journalists will be tested with a PCR test. “There will be PCR tests for all ASO-accredited staff, totaling 130 people,” confirms Christian Estrosi. On their part, the riders will be tested daily to know if they can start the next day.
The area open to the public will be limited to 1,750 places over a space of 3,800 m², as well as 6,136 fixed chairs. A mat at the entrance will allow counting the number of people present. To access the pass, a filtering system will be put in place. Christian Estrosi was keen to point out that the number allowed by the Government is 5,000 people.
Regarding the starts and finishes of the riders, the city has pulled out all the stops. “For stages 1 and 2 on August 29 and 30 respectively, the riders’ signature podium and start, the reception area will be 2,520 m². Stage 3, which will take place at the Allianz Riviera stadium, will have a capacity of 12,500 m². Finally, the finishes of stages 1 and 2 will take place at the Verdure Theatre on the north sidewalk of Avenue de Verdun to Max Gallo Street with a capacity of 1,300 m²,” according to the first magistrate of Nice.
These days in Nice during the Grand Loop will not be what they should have been, a great popular celebration and a major economic boost for hotels, restaurants, and shops that would have greatly needed it after a lean spring, but in these cases, we have to do what we can.
To manage and contain future cases of COVID, the organizers of the Tour de France have set up an exceptional system. “A COVID unit composed of 15 people has been created within the organization itself and will be located in the coordination center at the finish line. It will liaise with health agencies. A mobile laboratory will accompany us throughout the tour and the test results will be provided within two hours,” recalled Christian Prudhomme.
Christian Prudhomme, like a good salesman, showed optimism: “Yes, there will be fewer people, yes the celebration will be a bit less grand, but you know, behind the masks, there will still be smiles.”
