The 118th Paris-Roubaix (open in new tab) and the 1st Women's Paris-Roubaix (open in new tab) scheduled for Sunday, October 25, have been canceled due to a coronavirus pandemic.

COVID-19 cases (open in new tab) are increasing in France, especially in the Nord department, with the finishing town of Roubaix located in the area with the highest threat level.

Despite attempts by the organizers, ASO, to provide assurances to the local authorities that the restricted event could go ahead, they were forced to announce their cancellation on Friday morning.

The men's Paris-Roubaix had already been changed from its normal spring schedule due to the global pandemic.

The ASO is now hoping that the 2021 Games will be held on April 11 as scheduled.

"At the request of the Préfet du Nord and Préfet des Hauts de France, and following yesterday's announcement by Health Minister Olivier Véran that the Lille metropolitan area has been placed on maximum alert, the 118th Paris-Roubaix, originally scheduled for October 25 ( UCI World Tour) and the first Paris-Roubaix Femme (UCI Women's World Tour) will not take place," an ASO statement said Friday morning.

"Paris-Roubaix, which is an annual frenzy, had already been postponed from its original date of April 12 due to containment measures implemented in the spring to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

"We would like to sincerely thank the community and event partners who supported this postponement and who, like us, were happy to see the Queen of the Classics again in the fall.

"On April 11, 2021, we will meet on the cobblestones to celebrate one of the greatest monuments in world cycling."

Paris-Roubaix was first held in 1896 and has been cancelled four times during World War I and three times during World War II.

Following the Amstel Gold Race, the event's cancellation renewed the campaign for the Fall Classic.

Three weeks after the Tour de France left Nice, Paris-Roubaix was deemed unfeasible, despite having arrived safely in Paris while passing through various coronavirus red zones.

The number of COVID-19 cases in France continued to rise after the Tour de France, and the decisive factor was the decision on Thursday evening to change the Lille metropolitan area from a red zone to a "scarlet" zone, the new highest level of alert.

Although the number of infected people had already exceeded the threshold of 250 per 10,000 population per week, French authorities had initially granted Lille a 10-day grace period before more stringent measures were introduced. On Thursday, however, Health Minister Olivier Véran decided that no more time could be wasted, and the most stringent restrictions, including the complete closure of bars, were imposed.

Last week, ASO reportedly held a meeting with local mayors and council members to outline the measures implemented during the Tour de France, along with proposals to limit the number of spectators on the iconic cobblestone section of Paris-Roubaix and the outdoor velodrome where the finish line is located.

Although the mayor of Roubaix insisted that the race continue, the concerns expressed by the head of the Hauts-de-France region and the mayor of Lille ultimately became reality.

The reorganized spring classics will be followed by Ghent-Wevelgem this Sunday, Scheldeprijs on Wednesday, and the Tour de Flanders the following Sunday. All three races will be held in Belgium, along with the Drièdagne des Pannes the following Wednesday, and are scheduled to take place in Belgium.

The cancellation of Paris-Roubaix means there will be no "Super Sunday" on October 25. In this oddly rescheduled season, the "Hell of the North" was scheduled to clash with the Giro d'Italia and an important stage of the Vuelta a España.