Cycling news - Elia Viviani calls for Milan-San Remo date change

The UCI Management Committee and Professional Cycling Council's decision is expected to be announced on 10 June.

The Italian event was initially postponed in March and is currently planned for August 8. However there is speculation that organisers will move it to August 22.

That would leave it just one week before the start of the 2020 Tour de France, which was also postponed and then rescheduled.

Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Viviani said: “I would definitely prefer it. I’d have more time to prepare for it and it would be closer to the Tour, which starts on August 29."

The 31-year-old Italian will not finalise his plans for the calendar until a decision is announced, and he could take part in La Route d'Occitanie in the first four days of August.

“In any case, Milan-San Remo couldn’t be the first race back,” Viviani explained. “If it’s on August 8, I could do some smaller races first. A short stage race would be useful, like Occitanie at the beginning of August.

“On the other hand, if Milan-San Remo is on August 22, it could be the Tour de Pologne, though it seems it will have a tough route, like the Dauphiné. In short, it’s still a puzzle.”

In the short term, Viviani begins a month's training in Livigno on 22 June, with the Tour de France as his overriding aim for the season.

He also told La Gazzetta that he may consider the Giro d'Italia in October if he can structure his preparation.