The 2021 Tour de France will start in the western French port of Brest, organizers said Monday, a week after Copenhagen pulled out of staging it.

Brittany will also host the first four full stages of the race.

The start of next year's Tour was brought forward by six days to avoid clashing with the men's road race at the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics.

The new June 26 start date, however, created a clash for Denmark with the football European Championship, which runs from June 11 to July 11.

Denmark is due to host three group matches as well as a last 16 match, all taking place at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen in June.

Copenhagen mayor Frank Jensen said last week the Danish organizers have accepted an offer from the race's organizer, Amaury Sport Organization, to postpone the start in Denmark until 2022. The Danish start to the Tour will be held from July 1 to 3, 2022.

The 2020 Tour de France, the 107th edition of the event, is set to begin on August 29 through September 20. The three-week long event was postponed from late June because of the pandemic.  

(With input from agencies)