Frederic Grappe, performance director of Groupama-FDJ, called for unity among professional riders during the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak, warning that "if some people can keep riding out there, it will be a two-speed Tour de France " he warned.

With the list of postponed or cancelled races stretching into June and the Giro d'Italia also postponed, most teams suspended activities and told riders to stay away from intense training.

However, different countries are battling the coronavirus in different ways. Spain, Andorra, and France have banned outdoor training on public roads, and professional athletes in Italy have also stopped outdoor training because it is considered part of their job, despite having initially received special permission.

In contrast, outdoor training is now permitted in Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Outdoor riding is widely seen as setting a bad example, as illness or injury could deprive current or future coronavirus-infected individuals of medical resources that could be used to treat them. However, Oliver Naessen ran 365 km in Flanders this week, and Chris Froome continues to train outdoors in South Africa with his Ineos teammate Dylan van Baarle.

In Colombia, Egan Bernal trains exclusively indoors and spreads the word on social media about the simple steps needed to curb the spread of Covid-19 The MPCC (Mouvement pour un Cyclisme Credible) association, which called on its members to set the right example and prioritize public health over sporting ambitions.

If social distancing and other actions help reduce the number of coronavirus cases, there is hope that professional racing will resume in the summer. Athletes will eventually need to train for a return to racing and perhaps run other races before taking on the Tour de France, Vuelta a España, and Giro d'Italia.

Grappe and other riders and teams are concerned that the ability to train weeks in advance will give some riders and countries an unfair advantage.

"We can't hide from the trainers in our own countries. If some of us can keep running out there, it will be a two-speed Tour de France," Grappe told L'Equipe (open in new tab).

Marc Madiot, team manager of Groupama-FDJ and head of the Ligue nationale de cyclisme professionnel (LNC) in France, warned: "A Tour de France with French riders would be a disaster. will be a catastrophe: at once the doors will be opened and "everyone into the arena!" I can't say that.

The UCI is apparently looking at various angles to design a new race calendar for 2020, but faces some difficult decisions due to the number of races already on the calendar or postponed in the second half of the season. Teams are ready to increase the number of races in the second half of the season and implement a triple program, but refuse to allow riders and staff to over-race.

Grappe wants a "no-race period" after the outdoor riding restrictions are lifted so that riders can train adequately before racing resumes.

"If we proceed (with an unregulated return to racing), we will see a deplorable spectacle and will not respect the public. What about fair play in sports?

"The only way to do it fairly is to have a no-race period. The training load must be increased gradually. Block work to restore basic competitive fitness lasts about four weeks. It takes at least that long to bring the fitness level back to parity between riders."

"The only way to get back to parity between riders is to have a no-race period.