UAE Tour called off with two stages to go

[Over The Post]

UAE Tour cycling event called off after two participants test positive for coronavirus

The final two stages of the UAE Tour cycling event — at which a number of Australians, including Caleb Ewan, are competing — are cancelled after two Italian participants test positive for COVID-19 coronavirus.

www.abc.net.au

Two Italian riders have come down with the coronavirus. Great.

 

[Vader]

UAE Tour cycling event called off after two participants test positive for coronavirus

The final two stages of the UAE Tour cycling event — at which a number of Australians, including Caleb Ewan, are competing — are cancelled after two Italian participants test positive for COVID-19 coronavirus.

www.abc.net.au

Two Italian riders have come down with the coronavirus. Great.

Cycling News says "2 team staff members", which the non-cycling media seem to assume means 2 riders. It could be mechanics or soigneurs. Either way, the riders on that team are likely to have come into close contact with the staff members, and now need to be tested & monitored.
https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/final-uae-tour-stages-called-off-over-coronavirus-fears/

 

[drd23]

I won't be surprised if the Strade Bianci and Milan-San Remo are cancelled too given how COVID-19 is apparently spreading in Italy

 

[Vader]

I won't be surprised if the Strade Bianci and Milan-San Remo are cancelled too given how COVID-19 is apparently spreading in Italy

MSR is definitely problematic, given it's proximity to the affected area. They're still reasonably optimistic that Strade Bianche will go ahead as planned.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

The Giro starts in early May, so that will be in doubt if it spreads in Italy at a similar rate as in China

 

[Vader]

The Giro starts in early May, so that will be in doubt if it spreads in Italy at a similar rate as in China

If the disease spreads as predicted then even the TDF and Vuelta could be at risk. By that stage though they will probably have moved out of the "quarantining" phase and into a normalisation phase.

 

[yaco55]

I think it will be done on a case by case basis - First, you need to test all riders and staff at the UAE Tour - You have three groups; positive with symptoms = hospital, positive with no symptoms = quarantine, negative = fly home - The bigger picture is that the UCI needs to show leadership by testing everyone in the peleton including riders and all staff so they then have a baseline - With races that go ahead you need to stop team presentations, limit supporters at the start and finish lines and have no spectators along the route - You can't just close down everything - Will add that Hong Kong still has horse races that feature empty stadiums - This is the template.

 

[Over The Post]

French cycling manager threatens HUNGER STRIKE over UAE quarantine after 6 new coronavirus cases confirmed, including 2 Russians

With six new COVID-19 cases confirmed in the UAE – all linked to a now-shuttered cycling tour – a French team manager has threatened a hunger strike over an ongoing quarantine, which he says has “passed the limit of decency.”

www.rt.com

 

[Vader]

French cycling manager threatens HUNGER STRIKE over UAE quarantine after 6 new coronavirus cases confirmed, including 2 Russians

With six new COVID-19 cases confirmed in the UAE – all linked to a now-shuttered cycling tour – a French team manager has threatened a hunger strike over an ongoing quarantine, which he says has “passed the limit of decency.”

www.rt.com

Imagine how he would have felt, being stuck on the Diamond Princess!

 

[owen87]

Looks like multiple teams are now withdrawing from racing until the end of the month, likely we'll see a few race cancellations now.

 

[Vader]

Looks like multiple teams are now withdrawing from racing until the end of the month, likely we'll see a few race cancellations now.

The Italian Govt has cancelled all sporting events which can't be held in empty indoor stadia until 3rd April. That includes Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico, and Milan-San Remo and a bunch of lower profile events.

The only major non-Italian race affected by the team withdrawals is Paris-Nice, which is scheduled to start (albeit with a depleted peleton) on Sunday.

Most of the big events in northern Europe aren't until April:
29 Mar - Ghent-Wavelgem
5 Apr - Tour of Flanders
12 Apr - Paris-Roubaix
19 Apr - Amstel Gold
22 Apr - Fleche Wallonne
26 Apr - Liege-Bastogne-Liege

Ineos and Mitchelton Scott (and probably others) have withdrawn from all races until 23rd March, so they'll all be back in time for the cobbled and Ardennes classics. Of course, that could all change if the Coronavirus pandemic continues to spread and becomes a problem in France/Belgium/Netherlands in the next month.

 

[owen87]

The Italian Govt has cancelled all sporting events which can't be held in empty indoor stadia until 3rd April. That includes Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico, and Milan-San Remo and a bunch of lower profile events.

The only major non-Italian race affected by the team withdrawals is Paris-Nice, which is scheduled to start (albeit with a depleted peleton) on Sunday.

Most of the big events in northern Europe aren't until April:
29 Mar - Ghent-Wavelgem
5 Apr - Tour of Flanders
12 Apr - Paris-Roubaix
19 Apr - Amstel Gold
22 Apr - Fleche Wallonne
26 Apr - Liege-Bastogne-Liege

Ineos and Mitchelton Scott (and probably others) have withdrawn from all races until 23rd March, so they'll all be back in time for the cobbled and Ardennes classics. Of course, that could all change if the Coronavirus pandemic continues to spread and becomes a problem in France/Belgium/Netherlands in the next month.

Don't cancel my Roubaix

 

[yaco55]

Doubt the Belgian Classics will be cancelled.

 

[eth-dog]

Pity MSR is gone. Enjoyable race when I get to watch it.