Tokyo 2020 moved to 2021: Daily News Digest
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Hello again, CyclingTips readers.
The Tokyo Olympics will not happen in 2020.
After holding off on making the decision for weeks as other sporting events around the world were called off, organizers announced on Tuesday that the 2020 Olympics will instead be held in 2021 (albeit while still being referred to as the 2020 Games, according to the official press release).
The postponement is one of the biggest yet in the world of not only cycling but sport generally, and will see organizers and the host country take up with the monumental task of rescheduling such a major event for a new date by summer of next year.
Meanwhile, the many athletes who had made this summer the focal point of their training efforts for the past few years will now have to change plans and set their sights months farther down the road than planned.
It’s undoubtedly a big change, but we know we’ll be even more excited for the chance to finally enjoy the action when the Games return.
Until next time, readers.
What’s news
| Tokyo Olympics postponed to 2021
The International Olympic Committee and Tokyo 2020 organizers announced in a joint statement on Tuesday that the upcoming Olympics will be postponed to 2021 amid coronavirus concerns. While past Olympic Games have been cancelled – most recently in 1940 and 1944 due to the Second World War – Tuesday’s announcement marks the first time the Olympic Games have ever been postponed to a later date.
“In the present circumstances and based on the information provided by the WHO today, the IOC President and the Prime Minister of Japan have concluded that the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo must be rescheduled to a date beyond 2020 but not later than summer 2021, to safeguard the health of the athletes, everybody involved in the Olympic Games and the international community,” organizers said in a statement.
| Pinot’s perspective on lockdown life
Thibaut Pinot discussed life on lockdown and the challenges facing the world of cycling in a recent interview with France Télévisions, saying that he would be sorely disappointed to miss out on another shot at the Tour should it come to that, but calling on everyone to take the threat of coronavirus seriously and do their part by staying at home.
Pinot also expressed concern for the way the cycling world might be affected, particularly as regards up-and-comers, saying, “I think that the economic consequences of a sleepless year can hurt everyone, riders, in terms of contracts, but especially for amateurs who want to become pros, for neo-pros.”
| Farrar enjoying new career as a firefighter
Six-time Grand Tour stage winner Tyler Farrar has stayed busy since retiring from the pro peloton in 2017. As Cyclingnews reports, the 35-year-old American is enjoying a new career as a firefighter in his home state of Washington.
“Being a firefighter was always something that sat in the back of my head when I was racing. I wanted to do it when I was a kid but I was having a lot of success racing bikes, but firefighting was always a job that I wanted to pursue once I knew that cycling was over for me,” Farrar told Cyclingnews. “When I stopped cycling I just went straight into trying to be a firefighter and I gave it the same level of dedication.”
| Orucase begins production on protective face masks
Orucase has joined the growing list of bike industry companies shifting focus to making personal protective equipment (PPE) to help meet increased need as the coronavirus pandemic strains supply chains across the world. The American manufacturer of bike bags and other accessories has announced that it is producing protective face masks, which are facing supply shortages as hospital staff work to treat with increasing numbers of coronavirus patients.
Orucase says it has the capacity to make up to 500,000 masks per week.
| Campagnolo halting e-commerce fulfillment until April 6
Campagnolo has announced that it is stopping all activities and won’t be able to deliver e-commerce orders received after Tuesday night until at least April 6.
Italy, where Campagnolo is based, remains in lockdown as it combats a major national crisis.
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SUBSCRIBE TO THE DAILY NEWS DIGEST PODCASTToday’s featured image of Thibaut Pinot and Julian Alaphilippe on stage 6 of the 2019 Tour de France comes from Kristof Ramon.
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