The UCI confirmed that the famous race across France and other European countries will take place from 29 August to 20 September.

On Monday the French president, Emmanuel Macron, declared that no public event will be permitted in the country until mid-July.

Originally the tour was scheduled to take place from 27 June to 19 July.

The UCI also confirmed that Italy’s Giro and Spain’s Vuelta would also be postponed, while the men’s road race at the World Championships in Martigny, Switzerland, will still go ahead as planned on 27 September.

The Tour de France has been postponed to August 29 - Sept 20 due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, the International Cycling Union (UCI) said on Wednesday.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that no public event would take place in the country until mid-July as part of measures to contain the coronavirus outbreak, which has infected over two million people worldwide.

The UCI added that Italy's Giro and Spain's Vuelta would follow the Tour in a revised calendar and the men's road race at the world championships in Martigny, Switzerland, would go ahead as scheduled on Sept 27.

“The Tour de France is postponed and will take place this year from 29 August to 20 September,” the UCI said in a statement.

“The Giro d’Italia will take place after the UCI Worlds and will be followed by the Vuelta Ciclista a Espana.

“Holding this event in the best conditions possible is judged essential given its central place in cycling’s economy and its exposure, in particular for the teams that benefit on this occasion from unparalleled visibility."

“The most prestigious one-day road races (the Monuments), ie Milano-Sanremo (Italy), the Tour des Flandres (Belgium), Paris-Roubaix (France), Liege-Bastogne-Liege (Belgium) and Il Lombardia (Italy), will all take place this season, at dates still to be defined.”

@MorganPiek OFM Sport