Tour de France preceded by several warm up races

Several races will be std in run up to rescheduled Tour de France which starts at end of August, an updated cycling calendar revealed.

As ban on sport is lifted first race in France will be Route d'Occitanie between August 1-4 followed by a one day mountain challenge at Mont Ventoux and n Tour de l'Ain from August 7-9.

Also packed into programme is shortened Criterium de Dauphine between 12-16 August and n four-day Tour du Limousin from August 18.

International Cycling Union insisted dates would be constantly evaluated according to health situation regarding coronavirus pandemic in country.

Tour has been rescheduled to embark from Nice on August 29 from its original June start date in an attempt to make sure sport's central financial pillar can be std this season.