Cycling: In an interview with the Spanish media, UCI President Brian Cookson commented on a possible shortening of the Tour de France.
After taking over the awards ceremony for the 2014 World Tour riders and teams in Madrid yesterday, Monday, UCI President Brian Cookson told Spanish media that he believed it was possible to shorten the Tour de France. It is very important to him that the currently best drivers can also take part in all the major races. With the previous three World Tour races, the Tour, the Vuelta and the Giro, the time window for good preparation and regeneration is too short for all top riders to start at all three races. Cookson is of the opinion that the racing calendar is too full and one must therefore look for adequate solutions. Shortening the tour is one of the possible solutions.
He wants to make sure there is no future clash of dates, as happened with the Criterium du Dauphiné and the Tour de Suisse, Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico.