“This hurts and it is disappointing”, director Richard Plugge of Team Jumbo-Visma says. “But this is the best decision we can take at the moment. As management, we have a responsibility to carefully assess all the risks involved. At the moment they are too significant to ignore.” Riders and staff members who would leave for the race reacted sympathetically and positively.

After the cancellation of the Italian races, Paris-Nice is still the only race that also has disappeared from our programme. Other races will be judged on a case-by-case basis. “Cycling has a unique character and travelling and staying in hotels is inherent to the sport. That makes us vulnerable in this corona crisis. The health of riders, staff and public now deserves our priority. We also take into account circumstances that may arise such as quarantine, illness or hospitalisation.”