Organizers of the Ladies Tour of Norway have announced that they have been forced to postpone the four-day stage race due to social disruption and foreign travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus. The event was scheduled to take place August 13-16, but has been rescheduled as part of the Women's World Tour's late calendar and will return in 2021.

"It is mainly the rules regarding the one-meter social distance and the restrictions on foreigners entering Norway that make it impossible for us," said race director Roy Moberg.

"We have pulled out all the stops and sought advice from the government and those responsible for the restrictions, but we have no assurance that the situation will change by mid-August.

The UCI released its revised late season calendar in May, and the Women's World Tour initially retained 18 of its original 22 events. These included five stage races and 11 one-day races.

However, organizers of two one-day races, the PostNord Vårgårda WestSweden team time trial and the road race, cancelled the events due to travel restrictions surrounding the COVID-19 coronavirus.

The cancellation of the Ladies Tour of Norway and two Vårgårda events reduced the Women's World Tour calendar to 15 events.

UCI President David Lapartient emphasized that the revised calendar announced was heavily dependent on the development of the COVID-19 virus and the health precautions and guidelines stipulated in each country.

Moberg noted that the Ladies Tour of Norway is an international sporting event that attracts top riders from around the world, but that there is no possibility of such high-profile teams or riders competing in Norway.

"We considered all possibilities, including holding the event without spectators and with the necessary protection for COVID-19. However, we cannot hold a World Tour race without riders. So it is with a heavy heart that we have made this decision, and we promise to return in August 2021 with a new 'Ladies Tour of Norway' at the highest level and in force," Moberg said.

Last year, Scandinavian race organizers Ladies Tour of Norway, Volgorda West Sweden, and the Danish Federation announced plans for a new 10-stage event that will be the hardest race on the women's calendar. The new race, called "Battle of the North," was to debut in 2021, but organizers say the plans are now "uncertain" due to COVID-19.