The European Road Cycling Championships which were scheduled to take place in Nice from the 14th to the 18th of September have been cancelled, the mayor of the city Philippe Pradal has announced.
“Given that this event would have used considerable security force resources, and to the extent that we have not obtained guarantees on the deployment of these security forces, the European Cycling Championships that Nice was to host on behalf of France, is cancelled,” said Pradal at a press conference.
The news emerges just three weeks after the Bastille Day attack when 85 people were killed and over 300 injured when a truck was deliberately driven into crowds on the Promenade des Anglais in the southern French city.
The Championships were to be the first time that Elite riders would have been able to participate with the likes of Philippe Gilbert (Belgium) and the Italian riders Vincenzo Nibali and Fabio Aru expressing interest in lining up in the Men’s race.
Ten titles were up for grabs with 750 competitors from 40 countries expected to attend. The course to be used for the road race included the climbs of the Col des 4 Chemins and Col d’Eze.
The programme which had been scheduled is as follows:
Wednesday 14 September
ITT Junior Women (11 km) / ITT Junior Men (20 km) + ITT U23 men (32 km)
Thursday 15 September
ITT Elite and Espoir Women (20 km) / ITT Elite Men (37 km)
Friday 16 September
Road Race Junior women (51 km) / Road race Espoir men (138 km)
Saturday 17 September
Road Race Elite + Espoir women (113 km) / Road Race Junior men (113 km)
Sunday 18 September
Road Race Elite men (215 km)
Why, way too many arabs in the area? So finally are they a risk? #cycling #twittcyclos #france #eu #europe #values #heritage