Effects of coronavirus on professional races

[Amazinmets87]

Of course there'll probably still be fans who won't care about rain, but I'm kinda hoping that if it's pissing down during the race, more people will think twice before going out to watch on-site.

I doubt that will have any bearing on whether or not they host it.

 

[yaco]

I suspect if there is no news in the next two days, then the race will go ahead.

 

[Pantani_lives]

ASO is still negotiating, but it looks bad. Prediction: it will be postponed to late October, and it will rain cats and dogs on April 11th.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Good news everyone!

ASO has worked out an agreement with RCS to create the new race Paris-Roubaix-Rome to be held on April 11st.
The final decision was made after a successful meeting between the two organizations and the riders represented by Maximilian Schachmann.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Good news everyone!

ASO has worked out an agreement with RCS to create the new race Paris-Roubaix-Rome to be held on April 11st.
The final decision was made after a successful meeting between the two organizations and the riders represented by Maximilian Schachmann.

Huge if true
The cobbles that they used in the Giro del Lazio back in the 90ies make even the Forest of Arenberg look like gentle urban cobbles.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Huge if true
The cobbles that they used in the Giro del Lazio back in the 90ies make even the Forest of Arenberg look like gentle urban cobbles.

That are some nasty looking cobbles and some good old quality cars.

 

[SafeBet]

And some avant-garde slow motion replays too!

 

[Max Rockatansky]

That are some nasty looking cobbles and some good old quality cars.

That's Via Appia Antica. Basically it's a very straight road from Roma's Porta San Sebastiano to Mausoleo di Gallieno. It's mostly cobbled. Some cobbles are new city cobbles, but some are antique and very nasty. And the scenery is beautiful.

 

[tobydawq]

Why do the authorities in that region hate cycling?

I guess it could be held a week after the World Championships where all the right riders should be in top shape, if it was to come to that.

Well, there you go. It has just been announced that this indeed will be the new calendar spot for Roubaix.

Really annoying that we have to wait another half a year but for a Sagan fan like me, this is definitely not bad news only.

 

[Volderke]

Ofcourse a bummer it's delayed again, but the new date is really good, a week after the world's race is in Leuven with some cobbled climbs, so I can see most of those main protagonists combining this with Roubaix.

And for once we'll get 2 times Roubaix over the course of 6 months.

 

[jmdirt]

What is the weather usually like in that part of the world in early Oct?

 

[Escarabajo]

I thought it was April 1st fool's day. Or is it not?

Paris-Roubaix postponed to October due to COVID-19 pandemic in France

First-ever women's race moved to Saturday, October 2 with men's race on Sunday, October 3

www.cyclingnews.com

 

[Bonimenier]

What is the weather usually like in that part of the world in early Oct?

October is usually one of the wettest months of the year.

 

[Volderke]

April is actually one of the driest months, so it can only be better.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

A shame that the men's and women's races won't be held on the same day, but hopefully we'll be able to get full coverage of both races then. The CN article says that it doesn't matter that they now overlap with Giro dell'Emilia because they suit different rider types, but I wouldn't be surprised if the field of the Giro dell'Emilia Donne will be weakened by it.

But lets just hope all the races are actually going to be held this year, cause all these postponements/cancellations are worse than actually riding on cobblestones!

 

[tobydawq]

A shame that the men's and women's races won't be held on the same day, but hopefully we'll be able to get full coverage of both races then. The CN article says that it doesn't matter that they now overlap with Giro dell'Emilia because they suit different rider types, but I wouldn't be surprised if the field of the Giro dell'Emilia Donne will be weakened by it.

But lets just hope all the races are actually going to be held this year, cause all these postponements/cancellations are worse than actually riding on cobblestones!

Why is that a shame?

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Why is that a shame?

Because I think the women's race would be able to enjoy a larger audience (spectators on the road if allowed/TV rating) if it was raced on the same date as the men's.

 

[Amazinmets87]

April is actually one of the driest months, so it can only be better.

On average, sure. However, as I've previously stated, Google the weather forecast for Roubaix, France. Precipitation is predicted essentially every day for a week leading up to the originally scheduled start date. The cobbles would have been delightfully muddy.

Oh well, Roubaix twice in 6 months and right after the Worlds will still be really nice, if it indeeds runs... My current stance is "I'll believe it when I see it"

 

[Pantani_lives]

Well, it was to be expected. I guess the first weekend of October is the best possible alternative. I hope WVA will ride Liège now. A separate day for the women might be a good thing.

Of course it will rain on April 11th and be dry on October 3rd.

 

[yaco]

The women's race is on a day early because the Tour of Britain starts two days later.

 

[Kaptain Kool]

So P-R, Muensterland Giro, Bruno Beghellii and Vendee all in one day. And I think all but MG will get international TV coverage. And day before is Emilia, Eurometropole Tour and rescheduled Classic Loire Atlantique.

 

[More Strides than Rides]

Because I think the women's race would be able to enjoy a larger audience (spectators on the road if allowed/TV rating) if it was raced on the same date as the men's.

While that is true, it only works if there is no overlap between the races. I hate to put any brakes on the rise of Women's cycling, but any kind of combined coverage (as in overlapped, not sequential races) would be worse for both.

Marathon running and its broadcasts are always pained by combined starts and even staggered starts where action in one race happens during the finish of another.

 

[yaco]

I am interested in whether the other two French races this month on the 17th or 18th go ahead.

 

[RedheadDane]

I suppose it boils down to regions.
The Great Amazing Cheese Race, which was supposed to have been held just two days after P-R has sadly - but understandably - already been cancelled/postponed. However, Roue Tourangelle this Sunday appears to be on, so do Grand Besancon (16th) and Tour du Jura (17th)

 

[Pantani_lives]

While that is true, it only works if there is no overlap between the races. I hate to put any brakes on the rise of Women's cycling, but any kind of combined coverage (as in overlapped, not sequential races) would be worse for both.

Marathon running and its broadcasts are always pained by combined starts and even staggered starts where action in one race happens during the finish of another.

I like the recent change of letting the women finish one hour and a half after the men. That still leaves time for half an hour of post-race coverage for the men, followed by the final hour of the women's race. Many people continue watching and there's no scheduling conflict.

On Wout Van Aert: It looks like he'll do Brabantse Pijl and Amstel instead of Roubaix. However I don't think he'll do Liège. I would like to see him in that race. He's a good enough climber, and he would have an excellent domestique named Primoz Roglic.