The cancellation of Paris-Roubaix due to the COVID-19 pandemic means that the "Super Sunday" is gone, but for Mauro Veni, October 25 is all about finishing the scheduled Giro d'Italia safely in Milan.

After the finish of stage 7 in Brindisi, the race director admitted on RAI's Processo alla Tappa program that there were concerns about the Giro due to the increasing number of cases of COVID-19 coronavirus reported in Italy over the past few days.

ASO confirmed on Friday morning that Paris-Roubaix will be cancelled due to the maximum alert being put in place due to the increase in the number of coronavirus cases in the Lille metropolitan area.

"If we ourselves were in such a situation, there would be little we could do. If the state authorities decide to do something, we would have to follow their orders," Begni said.

"Today the cancellation of Paris-Roubaix was confirmed. It is a shame because we will lose one of the most important classics in cycling, comparable to Milan-San Remo. It's a shame," Vengi said. 'And above all, this situation means that even with two weeks of the Giro left, the infection is growing.'

Italy has been more successful than its neighbors in containing the spread of the coronavirus since the summer, but in recent weeks the level of contagion has continued to rise. On Thursday, 4,458 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Italy, the highest number of cases per day since the country was sealed off in April. Earlier this week, the Italian government extended the state of emergency declaration until January 31, and on Thursday, the wearing of masks outdoors became mandatory.

With the cancellation of the men's and women's versions of Paris-Roubaix, the only two World Tour races scheduled for October 25 are the Giro time trial and stage 6 of the Vuelta a España. Asked if he felt the Vuelta was in jeopardy after a 15-day state of emergency was declared in Madrid, Vegnini prioritized focusing on his own event.

"Cycling lives by attracting spectators, but unfortunately the crowds also increase the risk of contagion," Vegni said. 'I don't know what's going on in Spain, but from what I've heard, they've been on alert the last few days. But as I said before, I'm worried that we still have two weeks to go."

Veni confirmed that the riders and team staff competing in the 2020 Giro will take the next COVID-19 tests on Sunday and Monday. Prior to the Giro, Veni announced that RCS Sport would not apply the "two strikes, team out" rule regarding coronavirus testing that was in place at the Tour de France,

and that the team will be tested on Sunday.

"We try to maintain as much of a bubble around the athletes as possible," Veni said, urging spectators and race followers to maintain the physical distance measures in place in Italy. 'Keep your distance, keep wearing your masks, and we will get through this critical situation.'

Earlier in the day, Veni had expressed confidence that the Giro would not be unduly disrupted by bad weather when it reached the high mountains in week three; as is the case when the race is held in May, the Giro already has an alternate schedule of mountain stages that could be affected by snow.

"There are two concerns: COVID-19 and the third week," Veni told RAI. 'For the former, we have no choice but to remain vigilant and continue to respect all the protocols that have been laid down. Because we are already studying all the solutions necessary to bring the Giro d'Italia to a successful conclusion without distorting its character."