A report translated from “Wielerflits.be” Belgium
The current corona measures in Northern France make it impossible to move the “Hell of the North”. The competitions for men and women have been moved to the first weekend of October. The prefect of the Hauts-de-France region, Michel Lalande, made all his doubts public last week. His region is in a four-week lockdown, requiring residents to stay within a ten-kilometer radius of their homes. Le Parisien then announced that Paris-Roubaix would definitely not take place, but that was quickly contradicted. The organization explored the course last week and looked at the possibilities to drastically reduce the influx of spectators, so that the race can still be held on the original date of April 11. The decision whether or not to proceed was therefore postponed to this week.
NEW DATE!
The UCI has announced in a press release that the men’s and women’s edition of Paris-Roubaix has been moved to the first weekend of October. The women’s race will take place on Saturday, October 2, a day later it will be the turn of the men. The new data has now been approved by all stakeholders within cycling.
“It is important for the UCI and the cycling community that both races take place in 2021,” said UCI president David Lappartient. “I am therefore very relieved with the new data. Paris-Roubaix is a monumental classic and this year the first Paris-Roubaix for women is on the program. It was, therefore, essential to find a solution together. ”
Christian Prudhomme, the big boss of the organizing ASO, is also happy with the outcome. “We are talking about a hugely popular classic that will be broadcast in 190 countries. Millions of people are following this course. Paris-Roubaix is also the pride of the Hauts de France region. It is part of our history.
