Paris-Roubaix, Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege have been officialy postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the races’ organiser have confirmed.
In an announcement on Tuesday afternoon, ASO confirmed it would not be possible to run any of the one-day races, taking place in both France and Belgium, and would endeavour to find replacement dates later in the year.
‘As part of the fight against the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), Amaury Sport Organisation, with the agreement of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), has decided to not organise Paris-Roubaix (12th April), the Flèche Wallonne and the Flèche Wallonne Women (22nd April) and the Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Liège-Bastogne-Liège Women (26th April) races on their scheduled dates,’ read the statement.
‘In close collaboration with the UCI and with the assistance of the other parties concerned, the organisers have already begun working on new dates for these Monuments, races to which teams, riders and spectators are deeply attached.’
As well as both the men’s, women’s and junior races, all three official amateur cyclosportives have been postponed too.
These are the latest in an ever-growing list of professional races to be postponed to do the ongoing worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.
So far, four of the seasons five Monuments have been postponed as well as the first Grand Tour of the year, the Giro d’Italia.
The postponement of Roubaix was inevitable considering the French cycling associations decision last week to cancel all cycling events. Additionally, President Macron announced a restriction on all non-essential travel into France for the next 30 days.
Currently, sanctions in Spain and Italy are all-but banning recreational cycling, with fines being handed down to anybody ignoring orders.
In the UK, charity Cycling UK called for a temporary stop to all cycling group rides to prevent the spread of the virus.