Organizers of the Mont Ventoux-Denivelle Challenge, won last year by Cofidis' Jesús Erada, have announced the route for the 2020 event, which will take place on August 6.

The second annual UCI 1.1 ranked event will start in Vaison-la-Romaine, climb from Bedoin to Chalet Reynard (two-thirds of the way up Ventoux), then descend to Sulu, a total length of 182 km, although the same route will again climb the south face of Mont Ventoux, continue over the Chalet Reynard to the summit, climbing a total of 4,000 meters.

In last year's race, held in June, Elada won ahead of AG2R La Mondiale's Romain Bardet, whom he faced on the slopes of the upper Ventoux.

The climb from Ventoux to Chalet Lunard was used as the finish of the third stage of the Tour de la Provence in February, where Nairo Quintana, signed with Arkea-Samsic, won there and took the overall win in the four-day race the following day.

Nicolas Garcela, race director of Ventoux-Denivelle, said he was "proud to be able to organize the race" despite the mass cancellation of sporting events due to the closure caused by the coronavirus.

"In the midst of an unprecedented health crisis, we are proud to have set a date on the race calendar that will allow us to host the second edition of the CIC Mont Ventoux-Deniverret Challenge.

"Over the past few months, we have been working hard to consider all possible solutions to host the event in a way that fully respects the very important sanitary regulations surrounding the current health crisis.

Conditions for professional cyclists wishing to race across borders have not yet been announced. Most countries either close their borders to international travel or impose a 14-day quarantine on arrivals.

France has the third highest number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 at 182,000, with 28,533 deaths as of Tuesday.

"Our thoughts are with all those directly and indirectly affected by this epidemic, and we hope that by holding the race at the top of the legendary Ventoux as an emotional finish line, it will be a healing experience for all," Garcella said.

"I would like to thank the governing bodies of cycling, the public authorities, our partners, and all cycling enthusiasts for their support.

"Several teams from the UCI World Tour will be at the start, including many well-known riders.