Effects of coronavirus on professional races

[Earns1985]

Just checked the corona numbers in Europe a bit.
Countries where the numbers are increasing are:

Spain
Portugal
Great Britain

In all other countries in Europe the numbers are declining or at least stable.

For February we have a lot of races in Spain, France and the Volta ao Algarve.

So what do you expect. The french races will go ahead?
In Spain Mallorca and Murcia are already rescheduled. So we have Valencia, Almeria and Andalucia left.
In Portugal we have the Volta ao Algarve.

 

[nbfc1962]

Just checked the corona numbers in Europe a bit.
Countries where the numbers are increasing are:

Spain
Portugal
Great Britain

In all other countries in Europe the numbers are declining or at least stable.

For February we have a lot of races in Spain, France and the Volta ao Algarve.

So what do you expect. The french races will go ahead?
In Spain Mallorca and Murcia are already rescheduled. So we have Valencia, Almeria and Andalucia left.
In Portugal we have the Volta ao Algarve.

Well,Vuelta ao Algarve just got postponed,hope we see it later in the year not next year

Volta ao Algarve postponed

The Portuguese Cycling Federation, organizer of Volta ao Algarve, today informed all partners and teams that the race will not be able to take place on the scheduled date, 17 to 21 February. Postponement is…

voltaaoalgarve.com

 

[tobydawq]

Oh that sucks. Crap February is what we will have.

 

[yaco]

Postponed till May - May could be an interesting calendar.

 

[tobydawq]

Postponed till May - May could be an interesting calendar.

The problem for these races is that their position in February is excellent and ensures a high-level field. A position in May does certainly not do that, the Spanish races which are usually held that time of year have awful start lists.

But the cancellation of the Tour of California might shift things a bit.

 

[Kaptain Kool]

Neither the Mallorca nor Murcia races had high-level fields. I know this year Murcia was expecting its best ever field, but recently it's been only Movistar and Astana. Bora, Lotto Soudal and Trek would also go to Mallorca. Almeria is higher level but a dull sprinters; race.
I don't think the shift to May will hurt the quality much.

 

[tobydawq]

Neither the Mallorca nor Murcia races had high-level fields. I know this year Murcia was expecting its best ever field, but recently it's been only Movistar and Astana. Bora, Lotto Soudal and Trek would also go to Mallorca. Almeria is higher level but a dull sprinters; race.
I don't think the shift to May will hurt the quality much.

I agree, it's more the Ruta del Sol and Valencia races that worry because they have had really stacked fields in the past years, as has Algarve.

 

[dusty red roads]

This hasn't been confirmed by the Japanese gvt, but this was first posted in the Times:

Japan says no truth to Times report on canceling Tokyo Olympics

Japan stood firm on Friday on its commitment to host the Tokyo Olympics this year and denied reports of a possible cancelation but the pledge looks unlikely to ease public concern about holding the event during a global pandemic. Though much of Japan is under a state of emergency due…

japantoday.com

I won't be surprised in the least if the Olympics are cancelled, but at the moment the PM is declaring adamantly the games will go ahead. Curious as to what he'll say after this leak.

 

[dusty red roads]

IOC refutes the article. Time will tell, I guess:

IOC dismisses reports Tokyo Olympics will be cancelled because of COVID-19 pandemic

International Olympic Committee vice-president John Coates rejects media reports that discussions have been held about cancelling the Tokyo Games because of coronavirus.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Bolder]

We are teetering on the edge of another full lockdown in France. The government has already canceled the ski season -- I'm not sure what would change between now and, say, Paris-Nice that would let that race go ahead. Yes, the Tour went on last year -- but opening up the country in July/Aug also helped contribute to another wave that led to Nov. lockdown ... etc etc.

re the Olympics, I don't see how they go ahead this year. There's not enough vaccinations happening. But I'd love to be happily surprised.

 

[dusty red roads]

I agree. Especially after the Australian Open tennis fiasco going on in Oz right now.
I can imagine some countries will decide not to go.
However IOC and the Japanese gvt are standing fast for now, adamant the games will go ahead in whatever wave, shape or form. I read something about possibility of IOC allowing the UN step in to make the decision. I assume that would mean neither IOC or Japan would be liable for cancellation costs in that case - which is undoubtedly one reason neither side want to be the one to make the cancellation.

And to think just a month ago the Japanese gvt were talking about bringing in tourists from overseas for the games. The Japanese population won't be completely vaccinated by July. And that's not even related to people in other countries with their own covid and vaccination supply problems.

I hope there's cycling this year - I think they'll be able to put on races due to the success last year, though looking like a later season again.

 

[Max Rockatansky]

Ruta del Sol is also postponed to May.

 

[Earns1985]

I agree. Especially after the Australian Open tennis fiasco going on in Oz right now.
I can imagine some countries will decide not to go.
However IOC and the Japanese gvt are standing fast for now, adamant the games will go ahead in whatever wave, shape or form. I read something about possibility of IOC allowing the UN step in to make the decision. I assume that would mean neither IOC or Japan would be liable for cancellation costs in that case - which is undoubtedly one reason neither side want to be the one to make the cancellation.

And to think just a month ago the Japanese gvt were talking about bringing in tourists from overseas for the games. The Japanese population won't be completely vaccinated by July. And that's not even related to people in other countries with their own covid and vaccination supply problems.

I hope there's cycling this year - I think they'll be able to put on races due to the success last year, though looking like a later season again.

Agree, that the Olympic Games are not secured yet. There is a lot to organize and a lot of people from different countries are coming together.

For cycling in general I don´t see it that negative.
There will be race cancellations for february, march and perhaps april and may. But I don´t see that the whole cycling season including Tour de France is in danger that it will not happen.
We started to vaccinate the people a month ago and it´s clear that there are in the beginning produccion problems so that there is not enough vaccination for everyone in the beginning.
But with more authorised vaccines and more produccion every day more and more people will get vaccinated, so for the summer I´m staying very optimistic.
And even without vaccination the UCI managed to organize the most important races last season, so why wouldn´t they be able to organize the races this year?

 

[Armchair cyclist]

Because it is almost more noteworthy this way around: the Gran Premio Valencia (1.2, Trofeo Luis Puig as was, Clàssica Comunitat Valenciana 1969 as they would apparently like us to call it but surely no-one will) has not yet been cancelled for Sunday, and the European season might be about to start...

 

[KZD]

We are heading for another postponememt of the classics season. I just hope that this time Paris-Roubaix isn't cancelled.

Regarding these early races, they can't all be postponed until May so I imagine that some will end up being cancelled.

 

[search]

Because it is almost more noteworthy this way around: the Gran Premio Valencia (1.2, Trofeo Luis Puig as was, Clàssica Comunitat Valenciana 1969 as they would apparently like us to call it but surely no-one will) has not yet been cancelled for Sunday, and the European season might be about to start...

and there even will be live coverage on Youtube .

BEAT Cycling has cancelled its participation though, after their DS tested positive for Covid-19 yesterday morning.

 

[yaco]

We are heading for another postponememt of the classics season. I just hope that this time Paris-Roubaix isn't cancelled.

Regarding these early races, they can't all be postponed until May so I imagine that some will end up being cancelled.

I suspect the Classics season will be relatively unscathed - Life will be normal again by the time of the TDF.

 

[yaco]

It's important the proposed block of races occurs in Spain during May for one reason. It will give neo-pros the opportunity to log race miles as they have suffered badly with the two affected seasons.

 

[Koronin]

Apparently Valencia is attempting to race the low level continental race this weekend and are still planning.

 

[glassmoon]

Normandie (22-28.5.) cancelled

Organisers cancel Tour de Normandie amid COVID-19 surge

Organising committee concerned over health risks for staff and teams

www.cyclingnews.com

 

[Keram]

My feelings after recent posts

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-1qju6V1jLM/maxresdefault.jpg

 

[Koronin]

Vuelta al Algarve has been postponed and will race May 5 -9.

 

[hayneplane]

With all the recent postponement and cancellation announcements what are looking like the first elite level races.

Are we looking at opening weekend classics in Belgium or are there still some early races in France or Spain going ahead so far.

 

[Koronin]

With all the recent postponement and cancellation announcements what are looking like the first elite level races.

Are we looking at opening weekend classics in Belgium or are there still some early races in France or Spain going ahead so far.

As of right now Valencia is still planning on holding their race.

 

[roundabout]

With all the recent postponement and cancellation announcements what are looking like the first elite level races.

Are we looking at opening weekend classics in Belgium or are there still some early races in France or Spain going ahead so far.

I guess UAE Tour is the least likely of the upcoming races to be cancelled.