Fears for cycling's future grow as coronavirus spreads

Concerns over sponsorship and how to return to racing are on the peloton’s mind, reports Vern Pitt

- Chris Marshall-Bell

As the coronavirus continues to wreak havoc on the world of professional cycling there is increasing concern about the long-term effects on the sport and how and when racing will return.

Last week saw the cancellation of yet more races, most notably the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. The UCI had hesitated to call off the cobbled Classics last week, perhaps hoping that a solution to the pandemic might materialise, allowing them to run as planned. Both organisers, Flanders Classics and ASO, eventually called them off as Belgian and French authorities enforced stricter lockdowns.

The Giro d’Italia has already been postponed, leaving the Tour de France as the next big engagement still on the calendar. However, as France entered ever-stricter lockdown to try and halt the spread of the virus last week, hopes are fading that the race will run.

Even if it did there are concerns that returning to racing in short order might undermine the sporting spectacle.

Groupama-FDJ’s performance director Frédéric Grappe told l’Equipe: “If some people can continue riding outside, we will have a two-speed Tour de France.”

He argued there should be a period without racing even as restrictions are lifted to allow all rides to get up to speed.

“The least we can do is be ready to entertain the fans” “You can’t reopen the doors at once and say: ‘Everyone in the arena,’” he said.

However, Jonathan Vaughters, manager of EF, disagreed. “I think it’s our job as professionals. To be really ready for the season to get going once it’s ready to get going… The least we can do is be ready to entertain the fans,” he told Cycling Weekly.