We better hope the summer weather sorts out Covid 19 because I can seriously see the grand tours not happening at this rate.
Could they not Zwift them instead?
I think the Giro is looking a bit dodgy now.
Italy has banned spectators from all sporting events until April 3rd.
Keeping crowds away from an 'open' event will be impossible, so they may cancel early, probably last week of March before they say one way or another.
They may not have any option if half the teams refuse to ride anyway!
Is Strade Bianchi confirmed? I know the Gran Fondo is cancelled, I thought there was a meeting planned for tomorrow ? (Thursday).
Several teams have said they're not going.
<span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">Following the Decree of the President of the Council of Ministers of 04/03/2020, RCS Sport announces that, regarding </span><span class="r-18u37iz">#StradeBianche</span><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0"> and Strade Bianche Women Elite, will communicate the updates in the coming days, following the meetings with the appropriate authorities.</span>
RCS official tweet 5mins ago says nothing about cancelling the event.
https://www.teamineos.com/article/team-ineos-to-temporarily-withdraw-from-racing
Ineos have pulled out of all racing until March 23rd. Combination of Nico Portal's sudden death the other night and Coronavirus risks.
I can't see that many of those races are even viable anymore with such severely depleted fields. EF have already pulled out of some of them, I think Mitchelton-Scott have too.
Exactly. Jumbo Visma have also pulled out. Who is left to race even if they were going ahead.
The Giro kicks off in 2 months but they probably only have around 2-3 weeks to make the decision to cancel/postpone which will probably coincide with exponentially rising numbers of cases in Italy and a final declaration of a pandemic by who.........I certainly wouldn't be renewing my eurosport sub right now.
Gutted in a purely selfish way. Favourite race of the year.
At least they announced it early.
Sad news, understandable given the current situation.
Great race, probably the best in the whole year.
Shame, because it's usually a good race - however there are still teams in the middle east in quarantine in a hotel after the UAE tour and only now have the hotel sterilised their bikes and turbo trainers so they can exercise in their rooms. having said that, I bet the TdF goes ahead, it's the biggest money spinner.
Looks like they're trying to find an alternative date for the races:
https://twitter.com/EuroHoody/status/1235543005110480897?s=20
Being optimistic, this could lead to some really great late-season racing.
The (northern hemisphere) summer events *should* be OK, or at the very least that'll be the hope. Coronavirus will decline from about April/ May, and won't really come back with a bang until November.
...which makes the decision to delay the latest Bond launch until then look a bit iffy...
Yes selfishly gutted here too. I've been really looking forward to the classics this year. So much talent.