The Tour de France starts in 48hrs. Should it be happening at all? A THREAD. (1/13)

Le #TDF2020 is starting in Nice, and over 3-weeks will make its way to Paris. Coincidentally, the Côte d’Azur and Paris are two of the biggest COVID hotspots in France. Make of the what you will (2/13)

Cases in are rising. New cases are as follows:
5429, 3304, 1955, 4897 (26/08 backwards). We’re heading towards the highest 5-day rolling average since the first week of April. (3/13)

But deaths rates are low so we’re all good? Well, maybe. But, we’re not really sure are we? It’s forgotten that COVID is still new. Research is limited. Who knows if there will be a lag on deaths. Why play Russian Roulette? (4/13)

This leads us nicely onto the ‘why?’. Why is France risking #TDF2020 . Money. That’s the simple answer anyway. Without the TDF, it’s rumoured that many WorldTour teams will ‘go under’, as so many sponsorship agreements are tied to the TDF. (5/13)

There’s also the cultural significance. Le Tour has only even been cancelled for the two world wars (1915-18, 1940-46). It’s a 116-year-old race, 2020 will be the 107th issue. The Tour doesn’t stop for much. Not even a huge doping scandal in 1998. (6/13)

Both riders and staff are having multiple COVID tests a week. If there’s a case, it will be caught. The original rule was ‘two positive tests in a team, it’s given the boot’. It’s rumoured that this may be relaxed due to a risk of false positives. (7/13)

It’s worth noting that we’ve had numerous positive tests in the WorldTour ranks already. These guys are being super careful, yet positive tests still come, it’s inevitable. I also dread to think how many positive tests there would be if we all got tested in the amateurs (8/13)

On top of this, Le Tour attracts fans. Of course it does. It’s (arguably) the biggest sporting event this year. The whole of France was locked up for months on end, Le Tour is a nod to normality. The authorities are asking fans to wear masks, and not go near riders... (9/13)

This is all well and good, BUT, mask wearing in France isn’t overly enforced. Vigilance is dropping. I can see a situation where fans wear masks for the cameras, but then pull them down while waiting on the road side. It’s hot in France, masks aren’t comfortable. (10/13)

The #TDF2020 will cause some COVID cases. How many? It’s impossible to say. But with a travelling peloton, and thousands of fans, there will be transmission somewhere across the 3-weeks. (11/13)

The significance of the #TDF2020 is unquestionable. An outbreak after a week and cancellation, the organisers will be ridiculed. If it’s successful, it will be seen as the light at the end of the tunnel. The ray of hope that everyone needed. Only time will tell. (12/13)

So, I put it to you. Will the #TDF2020 make it to Paris?

Thanks for reading. It’s time for me to watch some Netflix. I’m en route to the first round of the Coupe de France!
(13/13)