Postponements and withdrawals abound: Daily News Digest
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Hello again, CyclingTips readers.
The cycling world continues to experience the impacts of coronavirus concerns. On Thursday, race organizer RCS decided to call off this weekend’s Strade Bianche.
The RCS says that it will try to reschedule the popular race for another spot on the calendar. For now, the details on an alternate date remain unknown, as does the status other upcoming Italian races like Tirreno-Adriatico and Milano-Sanremo.
Meanwhile, the number of teams announcing an intent to withdraw from racing even outside of Italy in the near future continues to grow. Astana, CCC, and UAE-Team Emirates, like Ineos and Mitchelton-Scott, have decided to skip Paris-Nice, among other events.
As ever, we’ll keep you updated as the news continues to emerge.
Until next time, readers.
What’s News
| Strade Bianche ‘postponed’
Two days out from planned date of the Strade Bianche men’s and women’s events, organizer RCS has decided to call off the race, at least for now. The Italian government recently passed a decree that imposes serious limits on public events in the face of growing coronavirus concerns.
In a statement, RCS said that it “will request the UCI, via the Italian Cycling Federation, to allocate a new date on the international cycling calendar for Strade Bianche and Strade Bianche Women Elite.”
| Astana, CCC, UAE-Team Emirates will skip Paris-Nice
The list of teams announcing plans to skip races outside of Italy is growing quickly. Notable squads added to that list by the time today’s Daily News Digest was published include Astana, CCC, and UAE-Team Emirates.
All three say they will skip Paris-Nice as well as Tirreno-Adriatico, with the UAE team joining Ineos and Mitchelton-Scott in announcing a withdrawal from racing entirely for the near future. The UAE squad currently has riders and staff in quarantine in the United Arab Emirates following the announcement that individuals involved with the UAE Tour had tested positive for coronavirus.
| Paris-Nice invites new teams, increases team size
With multiple teams now skipping Paris-Nice, race organizer ASO has added B&B Hotels-Vital Concept and Circus-Wanty Gobert to the field, as well as increasing the roster size from seven to eight riders.
For now, the race remains scheduled to go ahead.
| Sea Otter postponed
The Sea Otter Classic, the annual festival of cycling in California that features racing and exhibitions across multiple disciplines, has been postponed.
Organizers are looking into the possibility of rescheduling the event for later in the year.
| White wins the Tour de Taiwan
Nick White topped an all-Australian GC podium at the Tour de Taiwan after overhauling Ryan Cavanagh in the standings on the fifth and final stage.
American Eric Young sprinted to his third victory of the race on stage 5 with White taking second and Yuan Tang Peng in third. White’s strong finish propelled him over Cavanagh in the final standings, with Marcus Culey rounding out the overall podium.
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Today’s featured image of Tiesj Benoot leading a group to the finish of Strade Bianche comes from Kristof Ramon.
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