Apparently not. …
Surprise, surprise — the Tour de France will be postponed, at the very least.
On Monday, according to The Guardian, President Emmanuel Macron announced that he would be extending France’s lockdown until May 11, and that no large public events would be allowed before July 11.
Le Tour had been scheduled to kick off June 26 in Nice.
Now, according to CyclingTips, the Spanish newspaper MARCA reports that the Tour could get shifted to August, with the Vuelta a España in September and the Giro d’Italia in October.
That would be a rough ol’ nine weeks, no? Looks like this is not the year to resurrect Live Update Guy.
Tags: The Plague, Tour de France
Mad Blog Media 
April 14, 2020 at 7:31 am |
Seems reasonable. This virus is gonna be with us like gum on a shoe. Combining Covid with those Tour crowds seems like a really lousy idea.
April 14, 2020 at 7:49 am |
O, to be sure. And think about the travel. First, just to get everyone there, and then, to move everyone around. Frankly, I wonder whether The Big Three will happen at all this year.
April 14, 2020 at 7:46 am |
Never gone just to watch the Tour but come August I’m going to be so desperate to go somewhere, anywhere, I might nip under la Manche for the second week. Whichever month that is. Something to look forward to.
April 14, 2020 at 7:53 am |
I hear you, Stan. I always like to take at least one trip per annum, just to flush out the headgear. But this year? Sheesh. I’m not certain that even a short bike tour would be all that much fun if a fella had to dress like Neil Armstrong.
April 14, 2020 at 8:15 am |
Same here. I wanted to take the motorcycle somewhere. Right now, taking it out of the garage and washing it seems like about the extent of it.
April 14, 2020 at 8:22 am |
Can’t see them letting it go ahead if there’s anything more restrictive than don’t stand so close to me. Which, as the stereotypical “Englishman abroad”, is not really a problem.
While the idea of going to France without a bicycle is an anathema in any normal year, I think this might be the one where I chuck some camping gear in the back of the Miata for that long imagined, top-down road trip. Fingers crossed, eh?
April 14, 2020 at 8:37 am |
Fingers crossed indeed. We’re still not over the hump here in New Mexico. Some folks are saying The Bug might not peak here until who knows when.
April 14, 2020 at 9:14 am |
Remember that “flattening the curve” only means spreading the pain. It buys time and reduces pressure on health services. But, in the absence of a vaccine, the same, if not more, people are going to succumb. And the much touted herd immunity will take a long time to appear without mixing.
The risk of death from this is reported to double with every 7 years of age. so, while the young ‘uns can go back to school, grandma and grandpa had better stay away.
April 14, 2020 at 9:26 am |
Yup. And the knuckleheads over here are already yammering about “opening the country,” as though it’s as simple as hanging out an “Open” sign. Sigh.
April 14, 2020 at 8:14 am |
I think yesterday really did me in. Talking to my eightysomething dissertation advisor on Long Island, which is part of the NYC hell situation. They are hiding out and having food delivered. Then one of my best friends, Randy, who lives right across the river in South Amboy, who is in a town with 10% sickness AND under a tornado warning.
Jeebus.
April 14, 2020 at 8:50 am |
T’ain’t no day at the beach, that’s for sure. I check in now and then with friends far and near. My man Hal up in Weirdcliffe is trapped in a 1,300-square-foot house with a teenage son, a dog, and a wife who occasionally works from home. The weather is Crusty County typical for this time of year, which is to say shite. Some of his employers are being less than forthcoming with the paychecks. I can hear the sound of his teeth gnashing from here.
April 14, 2020 at 10:58 am |
My pleasure of knowing about Hal is from your very fine descriptive stories. I believe you have mentioned many times that Hal is on old (old in a very experienced and wisened sense kind of way), Fairplay pack burro racer. Didn’t Hal write a book about his relationship with his son? I hope they are well. What may be Hal’s profession that allows him the kindness of losing out on income like many of the hardest workers in America?
April 14, 2020 at 8:51 am |
Here ya go, Mad Doggers: Moves to master anywhere.
You gotta do da moves! 🙂
April 14, 2020 at 9:08 am |
Sheeeeyit. I just yesterday tried cycling without the ankle brace. And I tried that on the stationary trainer.
The good news is, it felt OK. The bad news is, I’m not sure I’m ready to bust a move, in the driveway or anywhere else. But I sure need the practice. I never could pop a wheelie worth a damn.
April 14, 2020 at 10:37 am |
Oh, I know what will happen if I try to do tricks on a bicycle.
“And what were you doing, Mr. Spencer, when you broke your wrist?”
April 14, 2020 at 10:45 am |
I grew up as a kid messing around with wheelies but I never got to the point of really riding one for very long (I’m really good with them in wheelchairs though). I recall one time back in the late ’90’s and I was on a group ride and popped and held a wheelie for a reasonable amount of time (for me). The wheelie terminated when power overcame balance and clipping out of the ole SPD’s wasn’t gonna happen at that way leaned-back angle. I landed on my ass and ouch! it hurt for a long time. I’m just glad that it was a dirt trail. I still play around with wheelies every once in a while but the ole’ tilt-o-meter really doesn’t trust getting off kilter in the backward angle direction.
April 14, 2020 at 11:34 am |
I did a stoppie once. Following my buddy Bob on a tough and rocky trail, and he was going slow. I begged him to pick up the pace, and then I center punched a big rock with my front wheel. Picture slow motion stoppie with me doing my upside down turtle (not that one) impression, still clipped in, on the side of the trail. I didn’t land on a single sharp thing. Not even a cactus, Patrick. Remember what Julie Furtado says. “The secret to mountain biking is simple. The slower you go, the more likely it is you’ll crash.” But my mountain biking days are over. I enjoyed every minute of it, but I’m not willing to risk it anymore.
April 15, 2020 at 7:02 am |
Is it biathlon where it’s a staggered start, and you’re all on the same course but racing against your personal clock? And there’s no drafting in triathlons. But the two together, and everyone can race, just a min of 10 feet apart. And if you crash, a street sweeper just scoops you up.
April 15, 2020 at 9:16 am |
Cyclocross time trials. 40km of steeplechase against the clock. Forget about that 40cm barrier height and go back to junglecross, with water crossings, long-ass running sections, and hill climbs (by which I mean you throw your bike over the top and climb up after it). If the sun shines, the race is canceled. Biblical weather conditions only.
April 15, 2020 at 7:11 am |
//That would be a rough ol’ nine weeks, no? Looks like this is not the year to resurrect Live Update Guy.//
Which makes it a perfect plan.