The Trofeu Joaquim Agostinho stage race in Portugal this weekend has been postponed until September due to an outbreak of COVID-19 infection within the race organization. The UCI 2.2 event, which traditionally kicks off the Volta a Portugal, had already been postponed due to the host town's reluctance to host the race amid the coronavirus outbreak.

"Noting the commitment and effort expended to organize the event, the Grande Prémio Internacional de Ciclismo de Torres Vedras - Troféu Joaquim Agostinho Joaquim Agostinho) organizers announce that they have suffered an outbreak of COVID-19.

"By agreement between the race organization, the Portuguese Cycling Federation and the President of the Torres Vedras City Council, it is understood that postponing the event to September 19-20 is the best for the risk and epidemiological situation at the moment.

The race has been held annually since 1978 near Torres Vedras, 50 km north of Lisbon. The race is named after the late Joaquim Agostinho, Portugal's best rider from the area. Agostinho, a two-time Tour de France podium finisher, died from injuries sustained in a crash at the 1984 Volta Ao Algarve.

The 2020 edition of the Trofeu Joaquim Agostinho was originally scheduled to have three stages, but was shortened to two days due to a coronavirus outbreak in Portugal. The event was rescheduled for September 19-20, which coincides with the final weekend of the Tour de France and the first day of the UCI Road World Championships in Martigny.

The Volta a Portugal, originally scheduled for July 29-August 8, was postponed last month and no new date has been announced.

The international cycling season was interrupted in March due to the Coronavirus pandemic, but many events have been held at the national level in recent weeks, including the Slovenian Championship Road Race, the Swiss Championship Time Trial, and the Belgian Kermes Race.

The UCI calendar will resume this week with the Sibiu Tour in Romania, but Mathieu Van der Pol's Alpecin Phoenix team, concerned about the surge in COVID-19 cases in Romania, said Wednesday that it will make a The team will make a final decision on whether or not to participate.

Twelve World Tour teams have been confirmed for the Pro Series Vuelta a Burgos (July 28-August 1), and the World Tour calendar will resume with the Strade Bianche on August 1.