Following the cancellation of the Tour Down Under and the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, the European season opener was hit by a coronavirus pandemic and the Challenge Mallorca series was postponed to Saturday.

The four-race series was scheduled to open the 2021 season for many WorldTour teams from January 28-31.

However, amidst alarming numbers of infections, Majorca will enter the highest level of restrictions in Spain starting Tuesday, banning sporting events with more than 50 people.

These restrictions will remain in place until at least January 26, but despite presenting safety protocols to health authorities, organizers announced on Saturday that they had no choice but to postpone.

"We deeply regret having to make this decision, but the current situation obliges us to fulfill our responsibility to prioritize the health of all participants in the race," said Manuel Hernandez, Unisport's Executive Director.

The organizers have already contacted the UCI through the Professional Cycling Council to request a new date. The start list may be affected because of the overlap with the Giro d'Italia.

"We will do our best to hold the race today and in May so that we can have a fitting celebration for the 30th anniversary," Hernandez said.

The news is a further blow to the 2021 season, even though the 2020 campaign was successfully rescheduled after the first wave of the pandemic. With the cancellation of the Australian summer and doubts about the ability of international teams to compete in the Vuelta a San Juan, Mallorca was scheduled to be the first stop for most teams.

The Classica Comunitat Valenciana 1969 on January 24 will be followed by the GP La Marseillaise on January 31, and the Etoile de Bessege on February 3-7. The Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, a stage race in the province of Valencia, will also be held at the same time.

The Tour Colombia, Tour de Yorkshire, and Tour of Antalya as well as the race in Australia have all been cancelled.