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A general view of Stage 21 of Le Tour last year. PA Wire

Tour de France may go ahead without spectators as decision yet to be made

‘Everything is imaginable,’ the French sports minister said of Le Tour.

FRENCH SPORTS MINSTER Roxana Maracineanusays says this year’s Tour de France could be staged without spectators in a bid to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

The French government is in talks with Tour organisers about the future of the 27 June-19 July edition of world cycling’s top event which draws more than 10 millions fans annually to the roads of France.

All options are being considered including postponement or cancellation of the event which has been raced every year in peacetime since 1903, the minister said.

“Everything is imaginable. We have [imposed spectator bans] for other competitions before, even though it won’t have the same impact because the business model of the Tour doesn’t depend on ticket sales like football or rugby,” she told France Bleu radio station on Wednesday.

The postponement of the Tokyo Olympics and the Euro 2020 football championships has focused attention on the Tour which winds its way for thousands of miles through the towns and villages of France in a wide loop for three weeks ending on the Champs Elysees in Paris.

“I think that today everybody is aware and responsible about the period of isolation we are going through and everyone knows the reasons and the benefits that it can bring to all,” she said.

“So finally it wouldn’t be so bad because you could still watch it on TV.”

© – AFP, 2020 

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    Mute Damian Moylan
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    Nov 5th 2019, 7:33 PM

    RiP Anna K. other threads blocked.

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    Mute Alan McArdle
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    Nov 5th 2019, 7:56 PM

    @Damian Moylan: hear, hear

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    Mute Mark walsh
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    Nov 5th 2019, 7:32 PM

    https://www.gofundme.com/f/1sc9471cmo
    Please if you have a chance

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    Mute Ian Synnott
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    Nov 5th 2019, 8:46 PM

    If George Hamilton mentions Allison’s lack of clean sheets once more tonight, I’ll make my way to Anfield to personally shove Hamilton’s hands up his own h0le

    19
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    Mute Ave it
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    Nov 5th 2019, 8:50 PM

    @Ian Synnott: that’s oddly specific

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    Mute Ian Synnott
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    Nov 5th 2019, 8:51 PM

    @Ave it: Hamilton is being very specific about Allison’s lack of clean sheets.

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    Mute Yorkie1892
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    Nov 5th 2019, 8:55 PM

    @Ian Synnott: and fireworks…

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    Mute Seaniecp
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    Nov 5th 2019, 8:56 PM

    @Ian Synnott: cant listen to him anymore. Surely he means liverpool’s and not Allison’s. The man had like 22 of them last season. Has played f all this year. This must be why your upset ha.

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    Mute Ian Synnott
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    Nov 5th 2019, 8:56 PM

    @Ave it: whilst failing to recognize that this he has only played 4 games this season

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    Mute Ave it
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    Nov 5th 2019, 8:59 PM

    @Ian Synnott: I was talking about the hands…

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    Mute Ian Synnott
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    Nov 5th 2019, 9:02 PM

    @Ave it: ah sure, why not

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    Mute Ian Synnott
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    Nov 5th 2019, 9:03 PM

    @Yorkie1892: Might as well just send him out to watch the fireworks. Lug

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    Mute Joe Shea
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    Nov 5th 2019, 7:36 PM

    Jürgen Flopp

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    Mute milton friedman
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    Nov 5th 2019, 7:40 PM

    @Joe Shea: well I don’t know what you consider a flop, but I’ll have plenty more of it.

    Just look at the style of football being played man.

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    Mute Logan Shepherd
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    Nov 5th 2019, 7:51 PM

    @Joe Shea: Good man Joe.

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    Mute Joe Shea
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    Nov 5th 2019, 7:57 PM

    @Logan Shepherd: fair play logan

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    Mute Roger Paltry
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    Nov 5th 2019, 7:58 PM

    @Joe Shea: He has 1 less UCL trophy than Fergie from about a quarter of the attempts. Fergie, 2 from 19 = PALTRY!

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    Mute Joe Shea
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    Nov 5th 2019, 8:03 PM

    @Roger Paltry: don’t u bring utd into this… That’s not fair .. Ur playing dirty

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    Mute Logan Shepherd
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    Nov 5th 2019, 8:23 PM

    @Joe Shea: Do you do live gigs Joe. You’re so funny and so original. I’d say it would be a great night.

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    Mute Joe Shea
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    Nov 5th 2019, 8:46 PM

    @Logan Shepherd: a joke is only as good as a laugh or is it other way around

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    Mute Scott Stonebridge
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    Nov 5th 2019, 8:46 PM

    @Roger Paltry: Klopp lost 8 finals in a row before he won one …. you make me laugh Wroger !

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    Mute The Bloody Nine
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    Nov 5th 2019, 9:20 PM

    @Scott Stonebridge: #fakenews. Klopp won his first final.

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    Mute Brian McGuinness
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    Nov 5th 2019, 8:50 PM

    Someone get Keith Andrews off commentary

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    Mute Declan O Toole
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    Nov 5th 2019, 8:54 PM

    @Brian McGuinness: He’s an abomination,how in the hell did he ever become analyst. The muck put of him. With his Tod Flanders hair cut.

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    Mute Ave it
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    Nov 5th 2019, 8:55 PM

    @Brian McGuinness: he’s not as bad as David myler

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    Mute Brian McGuinness
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    Nov 5th 2019, 9:04 PM

    @Declan O Toole: He’s chronic

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    Mute Ian Synnott
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    Nov 5th 2019, 9:22 PM

    @Declan O Toole: Todd Flanders! Brilliant

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    Mute Declan O Toole
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    Nov 5th 2019, 9:24 PM

    @Ian Synnott: Ha ha

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    Mute Declan O Toole
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    Nov 5th 2019, 9:11 PM

    Can’t beat an Ox in the box.

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    Mute Fergus O'Connor
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    Nov 5th 2019, 7:37 PM

    3-1 Genk

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    Mute Joe Shea
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    Nov 5th 2019, 7:40 PM

    @Fergus O’Connor: draw for sure

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    Mute my name
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    Nov 5th 2019, 7:42 PM

    @Joe Shea: I see all the pundits are online tonight.

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    Mute Damian Moylan
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    Nov 5th 2019, 7:51 PM

    @Fergus O’Connor: Genk are not that good!

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    Mute Scott Stonebridge
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    Nov 5th 2019, 8:44 PM

    @Damian Moylan: No 1-1

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    Mute Yorkie1892
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    Nov 5th 2019, 8:42 PM

    Clean sheets this season is very bad. Easy goals from set pieces conceded again.

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    Mute Seaniecp
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    Nov 5th 2019, 8:58 PM

    @Yorkie1892: yeah. Definitely needs ti be tightened up quick. Especially going into crimbo fixtures. Forwards get tired and cant always bail out.

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    Mute raymond flynn
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    Nov 5th 2019, 9:42 PM

    Gomez and Keita not good enough for Liverpool.

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