The world’s biggest cycling event the Tour de France has been delayed until the end of August.

This following the French government’s extension of a ban on mass gatherings to mid-July because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The sport’s governing international cycling union (UCI) said the tour, initially due to be held from June 27-July 19, would be staged from august 29- to September 20 amid measures to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

With no racing before July, cycling teams and sponsors have been dramatically hit financially by the Coronoavirus, which has infected over two million people worldwide and brought the world of sport to a standstill.

The tour route will remain 99% unchanged with a grand depart from nice and the traditional final parade on Paris’s Champs-Elysees.