Alpes Velo, organizer of the Tour de l'Avenir, has decided to cancel the 2020 edition of this premier under-23 stage race due to difficulties in fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

The 57th edition of the race was scheduled to run from August 14-19, with six stages instead of the usual 10.

The Tour de l'Avenir is a gateway to success for young male riders, which further complicates the transition for riders in their last year under the age of 23. Former winners include Tobias Foss (Jumbo Visma), Tadey Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), 2019 Tour de France winner Egan Bernal (Team Ineos), David Gaudou (Groupama-FDJ), Marc Soler (Movistar ), Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana), Nairo Quintana and Warren Barguil (Arkea-Samsic).

The organizers note that unlike a World Tour race, "it seems complicated to take great care to ensure that all health precautions are respected in this event, which welcomes 23 teams, mostly national selections from Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas."

"The disparity in health guarantees prior to the tournament and the need for a "sealed bubble" within teams from different parts of the world with different levels of awareness risked affecting the absolute priority that should be given to health conditions.

Organizers are now looking ahead to 2021, when the race will return to its normal format, with the Grande Pearl being held in the Ardennes in Charleville-Mezieres.