Mass vaccination against COVID-19 may already be in place across Europe in the spring of 2021, but to ensure the safety of the Belgian Classic, spectators will not be allowed to watch the race from the roadside.

"There is only one scenario. No spectators. This is our way of working through the Spring Classic," Thomas van den Spiegel, CEO of race organizer Flanders Classic, told Het Laatste Nieuws.

Flanders Classics has expanded its ownership of races in recent years and now includes February's Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Gent-Wevelgem, Dwars Door Vlaanderen, Tour of Flanders, Scheldeprijs, De Brabantse Pijl. 2020 saw most races moved to October due to a calendar change, but 2021 will be held on the traditional spring dates.

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad is scheduled to open the Belgian season on February 27, while the Tour of Flanders will take place on Sunday, April 4, during the Easter vacations.

This year's race took place on Sunday, October 18, when Mathieu van der Pol beat Wout van Aert after Julien Alaphilippe ran into his race bike after an attack with a Classic rival.

Europe hopes that the COVID-19 vaccine will help avert or contain the third wave of the pandemic in spring 2021.

"There is no other way," Van den Spiegel said. 'The most important thing is that we race at the end of February, March, and April, because that's when the third wave of the MIC is most likely to occur.' Of course, I would love to see Wout Van Aert and Mathieu Van Der Pol running up the Oude Kwaremont side by side through the crowds. Unfortunately, that won't happen in 2021."

Due to spectator restrictions, the climbs of Mühl van Geraardsbergen, Koppenberg, Aude Kwaremont, and Paterberg during the Tour de Flanders, the start in Antwerp, and the finish in Oudenaarde will not draw crowds.

Even if some riders and fans are vaccinated or have recovered from the COVID-19 virus and are immune, strict UCI medical protocols will protect riders and teams from teams and races, and masks and social distancing in 2021, if not all will likely become part of the sport.

Van den Spiegel is prepared to accept a lack of spectators and important revenue from VIP areas and sponsors as long as the event is held in the spring. 2021's cancellation and loss of TV revenue could be fatal for the survival of many professional races.

"It never occurred to me that we would not host the Omloop, Ghent-Wevelgem, or Tour of Flanders. We can do just one more (without attendance or a certain source of income). After that it is no longer possible," van den Spiegel warned.

The Flanders Classic prefers to hold a non-spectator race in the spring to educate fans on how to enjoy the race rather than face further changes in the calendar.

"It would only create uncertainty. Then you don't know where you're going to end up," van den Spiegel said of the second schedule change

.

"We will again raise people's awareness about watching the race safely from home. We will do the same campaign we did this fall, and we will do it again next spring. It's not cool, but we did it well. We found out that bicycle racing can happen without spectators. The most important thing is that the race takes place."