Alternative dates mean that WorldTour races coincide with other major events however
To avoid a clash with next year’s Olympic Games, the 2012 editions of the Tour of Poland and the Clásica San Sebastian will be moved to alternative dates. With the London 2012 road races and time trials scheduled between July 28th and August 1st, both races – which form part of the International Cycling Union (UCI) WorldTour – would clash if they were to be held on their usual dates.
The Tour of Poland, which this year took place between July 31st and August 7th, will instead be held between July 10th and 16th; while the Clásica San Sebastian, which this year was held on July 30th, has been rescheduled for August 14th.
The decision to move the two WorldTour races was taken by the UCI Management Committee, which met at the World championships in Copenhagen, Denmark, where it was also decided to award the 2015 championships to Richmond, Virginia.
Tour of Poland race director Czeslaw Lang is pleased with the calendar change, since it avoids a clash with the Olympic Games. “We feel this decision is only right in order to avoid concurrence with the most important sports event in the world which is held every four years,” he said.
The move may present an alternative problem for the Polish race though, since a move to mid July will mean that it will run alongside the Tour de France, which is scheduled to run between June 30th to July 22nd. Since all ProTeams are obliged to take part in all WorldTour races though, Lang is not unduly concerned.
“I don’t think this is a big problem for us,” he explained. “The Tour de France is and always will be the most important race in the world.
“This year though,”| he continued, “by anticipating the dates for the Tour de Pologne, which is the last brief stage race at its level before the Olympics, we think it could be a valid alternative for all those riders and teams that won’t get the chance to participate in the Grande Boucle, or who would prefer to face a one-week stage race to refine their preparation as they look forward to the event in London.”
While both races avoid an Olympic clash however, they both look likely to coincide with other major races. The Tour of Poland looks likely to be held on similar dates to the Österreich-Rundfahrt, the Tour of Austria, while San Sebastian may find itself up against the Eneco Tour, another WorldTour event.
Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto), the current leader of the World Tour, won San Sebastian and finished second in the Eneco Tour, netting him 166 of his 698 point total. Should both events clash next year, the Belgian would be forced to choose between them, which could affect his potential title defence.