International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach praised cycling for showing that major events such as the Tour de France and World Championships can be held during the COVID-19 epidemic.

Bach was interviewed by international media, including CyclingNews, while attending the road race world championships in Imola. Bach again insisted that the Tokyo Olympics will be held next July, acknowledging that different scenarios exist depending on the status of the COVID-19 pandemic next summer and the availability of vaccines.

Road, track, BMX, BMX freestyle, and mountain bike competitions will all be part of the Tokyo Games, with the men's road race scheduled for July 24, six days after the Tour de France ends. The women's race will take place on July 25, followed by time trial and track races.

"Cycling has played a very specific role. With the Tour de France and now the World Championships, we have had two of the most complex competitions ever held at the international level. The success of these events has given us and the entire sporting movement a great deal of confidence. I want to thank the UCI for taking on this responsibility and organizing it in a very responsible way," Bach said.

"We are very proud of the UCI, because in the last few months we have learned that it is possible to organize major sporting events in a safe environment, even without vaccines.

Bach has always defended his decision to host the Tokyo Games. After the Tokyo Games were postponed to 2021, Bach hopes that vaccines and rapid testing will allow the Games to take place, but recognizes that the COVID-19 pandemic is still evolving.

"We are not even going to speculate about the cancellation of the Tokyo convention. We are preparing for the Tokyo Games, and we are preparing for different scenarios, but we are preparing for the Games to start on July 23 next year," he replied when asked about the deadline for a final decision.

"I am convinced that once the Tokyo Congress is held, we will benefit from additional tools in the fight against the virus: so-called rapid tests with results within 15 to 20 minutes will be more reliable, and we will be able to provide more information about the virus and its causes. And experts are convinced that we will be able to get our hands on vaccines. This would make it very easy to host the Olympics.

Bach said that vaccinating everyone who will participate in the Tokyo Games will ensure the Games' success.

"Vaccines alone are not a silver bullet, they can't solve all problems, but they can be part of the so-called toolbox," Bach said.

"Up until a few weeks ago, we were preparing for different scenarios. Then, in the summer, we got some encouraging news, so now we are adding the scenario that a vaccine will be available and that rapid testing will be available. There are scenarios in which all convention participants are protected by mandatory vaccination, and there are scenarios in which each group is protected according to the situation at hand."

Limiting the number of spectators at venues, including indoor stadiums, could also be an option, but it is premature to decide things at this time, as the COVID-19 pandemic situation is ever-changing.

"No one will expect us to say:" Bach argued. 'Neither we nor the governments know what will happen tomorrow. We don't know if we will need masks next week, if we will need quarantine, where we can travel, whether we will be able to leave our homes."

Bach opposes the simplification of the conventions and argues against the "pandemic convention" tag of the Tokyo convention.

"The Tokyo Games will not be a Pandemic Games, but a post-Corona world convention.

"We must adapt to the new world we are living in. This will have an impact on the Games, but the character of the Games as bringing the whole world together will be maintained. There will be 206 Olympic Committees, IOC Refugee Olympic Teams, athlete villages, opening and closing ceremonies. You will see and feel the Olympic spirit of Tokyo, but adapted to the new world we live in."

UCI President David LaPartient sat quietly while Bach spoke to the media. He was pleased to hear Bach praise cycling's role in the post-COVID-19 pandemic world, as he must secure his coveted IOC membership.

"Cycling is a very important sport, and the importance of cycling has increased tremendously in recent months. The explosion in the number of people cycling, whether it is real or virtual, shows that its popularity is growing. We hope this will spread to several continents around the world where cycling could grow," Bach said.

Bach mentioned only one caveat: the sustainability of the velodrome that will be built or used for the Olympics. To cut costs, the track and mountain bike events for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will be held in Izu, about 120 km from the Japanese capital.

"It means that existing venues will be used preferentially. The velodrome can be in the center of the Olympic Park or outside. The priority is sustainability.