Chris Froome and Egan Bernal Set to Return to Racing on August 1

The Route d’Occitanie will be the first multi-day road cycling race since the coronavirus, race organizer
announced on that it had attracted a star-studded field. Major tour winners Chris Froome and Egan Bernal from Ineos as well as leading French riders Thibaut Pinot, Romain Bardet and Warren Barguil will be the headliners in a tough four-day race. Route d’Occitane is scheduled for August 1-4 that includes one day on category one climbs in the Pyrenees.

The Route will reopen the French season and is competing with the one-day classic Strade Bianchi, also scheduled for August 1.

With the Tour de France set to start on August 29 in Nice, the Route d’Occitanie organisers announced 21 teams on Monday including eight from the top-level World Tour: AG2R La Mondiale, Astana, CCC, Cofidis, Groupama-FDJ,
Ineos, Bahrain and Trek.

Voici les équipes de cette édition 2020 ! ⤵#RDO2020 pic.twitter.com/u6TuuHUx99

— La Route d'Occitanie – La Dépêche du Midi (@RouteOccitanie) July 20, 2020

The race will give Froome, a four-time Tour de France winner, and reigning champion Bernal, a chance to battle for team leadership.

The third Ineos Tour de France winner, Geraint Thomas, will miss the race but compete at the Tour de l’Ain on August 7-9.

All three are due to compete in the Criterium du Dauphine, a traditional Tour de France warm-up race, on August 12-16.

The Route d’Occitanie will be a test for the race organizers to ensure the health of competitors and teams.

BOUM. ????
➕ https://t.co/MFagrDtKfC pic.twitter.com/bbY66c6wde

— La Route d'Occitanie – La Dépêche du Midi (@RouteOccitanie) July 20, 2020

RBA/AFP Photos: Bettini