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Rolling report: Impact of coronavirus on pro racing

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LATEST: Strade Bianche canceled; additional pro cycling team withdraws from races; UCI not canceling races yet, impose health regulations on races.

With the impact of coronavirus on pro cycling rapidly escalating, this will be your go-to guide for all the most important updates on the situation.

March 5, 10:15 (MT): CCC Team withdraws from upcoming stage races amid COVID-19 concerns

Following the official cancellation of Strade Bianche, CCC Team has made the decision to withdraw from Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico, in the interest of protecting the health and safety of their riders and staff, and the general public, and to avoid the risks of exposure, transmission, and quarantine posed at stage races.

March 5, 9:30 (MT): UAE Team Emirates withdraws from competition for the immediate future

UAE Team Emirates implemented a voluntary quarantine for the team involved in the UAE Tour, where several riders had been restricted to a hotel room for several days, for testing and observation. The team has announced that it suspended the planned competitive activity for Paris-Nice, Tirreno-Adriatico and Milano-Sanremo races.

March 5, 04:30 (MT): Strade Bianche canceled after race organizers meet with local authorities

One of cycling’s most dramatic race days — Italy’s Strade Bianche — will not be raced Saturday.

Despite holding out hope, race officials pulled the plug on Saturday’s Strade Bianche after facing a widening coronavirus crisis across Italy. RCS Sport officials met with local authorities in Sienna on Thursday morning. Sources confirmed to VeloNews that teams have been notified the race will not be held.

Officials are expected to make a decision on other upcoming races, including Tirreno-Adriatico and Milan-San Remo, in the coming days. RCS Sport officials already confirmed they are studying options about scheduling the races this fall.

March 5, 04:00 (MT): Cofidis riders quarantined in Abu Dhabi receive trainers

Team Cofidis riders quarantined in Abu Dhabi through ’til March 14 have been offered some respite from the boredom and fears over de-training, having received a shipment of trainers to their hotel.

March 5, 03:00 (MT): Astana pull plug until 20 March

Astana has confirmed it has withdrawn from racing until March 20 in a bid to protect rider and staff health.

“We have chosen to protect the health of our riders and staff and to take our responsibility for the society in not further spreading the virus,” Astana general manager Alexander Vinokurov said.

“Of course, we would have preferred to participate in all upcoming races, but for now, it’s safety first. We still have a long season ahead with many other important races.”

Withdrawing teams from racing means Astana will miss Strade Bianche, Paris-Nice, and Tirreno Adriatico. The Kazakh team joins Ineos and Mitchelton-Scott in taking extended breaks from racing, while Jumbo-Visma has pulled out of Strade Bianche this weekend.

“It was not an easy decision, but we have to protect the cycling family as well as our own families at home,” said Vinokurov.

March 5, o3:00 (MT): Israel Cycling Academy Continental team withdraws from Arava Race

The development team for Israel Start-Up Nation has entered its riders into home quarantine and abandoned a planned start at the Israeli Arava race.

The team explained the decision on Facebook:

“According to the government, all citizens returning from Germany, Spain, Italy, and several other European countries will be obliged to stay at home in quarantine for 14 days,” reads the statement.

“At least five riders of the Conti team returned to Israel from Spain after completing a two-week training camp in Girona – to take part in the most critical one day race in Israel – the Arava grand Fondo this Saturday.”

March 5, 02:30 (MT): UCI not to cancel events ‘at this stage’ imposes additional safety measures on races

Cycling’s governing body has released an official statement confirming “the decision has been taken not to proceed with the cancellation of any events at this stage.”

While the UCI is currently giving the green light for upcoming races in the wake of the spreading concerns over coronavirus, it has imposed a set of measures designed to “reduce the risk of infection among riders, team staff, the public and any other person involved in cycling, in order to avoid contributing to the spread of the coronavirus worldwide.”

Measures imposed include:

  • Increasing distance between public and riders at events;
  • Respecting “strict medical protocol, variable depending on the country;”
  • Limiting the number of teams staying in one hotel;
  • Respecting certain hygiene measures, “for example avoiding the use of the same pen by riders signing in at the beginning of the race.”

March 4, 16:00 (MT): Seven coronavirus cases in Wevelgem

Belgian news outlet De Kran van West-Vlaanderen is reporting that there are seven confirmed cases of coronavirus in Wevelgem, the town that will host the finish of Gent-Wevelgem on March 29. According to the report, the seven people went on a ski trip together in Northern Italy where they came into contact with the virus. Three of the infected are children.

According to the report, one family member told the outlet that, “None of us is really sick.”

Wevelgem has long hosted the finish of Gent-Wevelgem, which features WorldTour races for both pro men and women, as well as Nations Cup races for juniors and Under-23 riders. Wevelgem also hosts the Gent-Wevelgem Cyclo, an amateur cyclosportive that is held the day before the pro race. That event, held this year on March 28, attracts approximately 7,000 riders each year.

March 4, 15:40 (MT): A race without spectators or physical contact?

Sporting events across Europe are adjusting to the new challenges posed by COVID-19. France’s premier soccer league, Ligue 1, has announced there will be no handshakes between players and officials at upcoming matches as a way to curb the spread of the virus. Players will also hold the young mascots by the shoulder and not by the hand, which is what usually happens. The pre-match handshake between sides will also be cancelled.

After the Italian government’s decree there is some speculation around whether the races could still be held if they somehow convinced spectators to stay at home. For instance, some Italian soccer matches are still taking place because they are being held in empty stadiums, illustrated in the image below:

March 4, 15:15 (MT): Text of the Italian decree

The text of the official decree issued by the Italian government on how to curb coronavirus is now available in translated English. The decree has several sections that focus on sporting events, and what rules the teams and events should follow to prevent the further spread of the disease.

Below are a few excerpts from the order:

In order to counter and contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the following measures apply throughout the country:

b) shows, events and shows of any kind, including cinematic and theatrical performances, held in any place, both public and private, which cause crowding of people such as not to allow respect for the interpersonal safety distance of at least one meter referred to in Annex 1, letter d); 

c) sports events and competitions of all types and disciplines, held in every place, both public and private, are also suspended; however, in municipalities other than those listed in Annex 1 to the Prime Minister’s decree of 1 March 2020, and subsequent amendments, it is permitted to carry out the aforementioned events and competitions, as well as the training sessions of competitive athletes, at the inside sports facilities used behind closed doors, or outdoors without the presence of the public; in all such cases, the associations and sports clubs, by means of their medical staff, are required to carry out the appropriate checks to contain the risk of spreading the COVID-19 virus among athletes, technicians, managers and all accompanying persons who participate.

March 4, 15:00 (MT): Team Ineos bows out

Team Ineos has announced it will cancel its pro racing program until the Volta a Catalunya on March 23. This effectively removes Team Ineos from Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico, Paris-Nice, and Milano-Sanremo. The team’s revealed the news in a message on social media.

“Following the tragic loss of Nico Portal, and in addition to the current uncertainty around the Coronavirus, Team INEOS have today taken the decision to withdraw temporarily from all racing until the Volta a Catalunya on March 23.”

March 4, 14:00 (MT): RCS Sport cancels Strade Bianche gran fondo

RCS Sport, owner of Strade Bianche, Milano-Sanremo, and Tirreno Adriatico has just cancelled the amateur gran fondo at Strade Bianche, set to take place on March 8, the day after the pro race. RCS Sport has yet to cancel the professional races, however.

“Regarding the bike races Strade Bianche (7 March), Strade Bianche Women Elite (7 March), Tirreno-Adriatico (11-17 March), Milano-Sanremo (21 March) and Il Giro di Sicilia (1-4 April), RCS Sport will communicate the updates and details in the coming days, following the meetings with the appropriate authorities, starting from the meeting with the Prefecture of Siena tomorrow morning.”

March 4, 12:00 (MT): Italian govt. decree could cancel pro races

Multiple outlets are reporting that the Italian government has decreed that all public events and public sporting events be cancelled until April 3. The decree states that major sporting events such as soccer and rugby matches can take place without a crowd present, but that major spectator events should be called off. There is no official word that this will cancel the upcoming WorldTour races, however the decision is likely to impact the events.

March 4, 10:00 (MT): CCC-Liv will skip Strade Bianche

Women’s pro team CCC-Liv will not participate in the Strade Bianche pro race on Saturday, the team announced in a release. The squad of Marianne Vos made the decision after speaking with its medical staff about the coronavirus situation.

“The risks are simply too big. We make this decision with mixed feelings, because we were really looking forward to this beautiful and well-organised race. The mind, however, has won from the emotion. The health and safety of our riders and staff have the highest priority at all times,” Team Director Eric van den Boom said in a release.

March 4, 10:00 (MT): Mitchelton-Scott and van Vleuten skip March races

Mitchelton-Scott has pulled its men’s and women’s teams out of races for most of the March calendar, meaning Annemiek van Vleuten, the defending champion at Strade Bianche, will not be there to defend her title. Mitchelton-Scott will not race the following events in Italy: Strade Bianche, GP Industria, Tirreno-Adriatico, Milano-Sanremo, Trofeo Alfredo Binda. The team will also skip French race Paris-Nice, as well as the Ronde van Drenthe and Danilith Nokere Koerse in the Netherlands and Belgium.

March 4, 08:30 (MT):  Jumbo-Visma is out of Strade Bianche

Jumbo-Visma will skip Saturday’s Strade Bianche over mounting fears of the coronavirus’s spread in Italy. The Dutch team had one of the favorites to win in Wout van Aert, who was third at the Italian classic two years ago.

“Together with the management of our team, I am constantly considering and acting in the interest of the health and working conditions of our riders and staff members,” said team director Richard Plugge in a release. “That includes, for example, preventing them from quarantine abroad. We have to look at the broader picture and take responsibility for the health of riders, staff and fans.”

March 4, 06:30  (MT): Fernando Gaviria reportedly diagnosed with coronavirus

Belgian news outlet RTBF.be has reported that Colombian sprint star Fernando Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates) is one of the six riders that were diagnosed with coronavirus Tuesday night. RTBF has also states that three members of Russian-based Gazprom Rusvelo have been confirmed as positive — two Russian riders and a German staffer.

VeloNews is reaching out to UAE Team Emirates and Gazprom to attempt to find further information

March 4, 06:30 (MT): Groupama-FDJ is still locked down in the UAE

Groupama-FDJ, who were one of three teams remaining in lockdown in Abu Dhabi, confirm that, like Cofidis, they will remain in quarantine through to 14 March.

“All ofour riders and staff in the UAE have been tested negative for COVID-19, still several positive results, not involving our etam – have been reported inside our hotel,” read a team statement.

Gazprom-Rusvelo, the final of the three teams locked down in the hotel, is yet to release a statement.

March 4, 05:30 (MT): Cofidis quarantine continues in UAE

Team Cofidis confirms it will remain in quarantine in Abu Dhabi for a further 10 days, under the bidding of local health authorities.