Tom Van Damme, president of the Belgian Cycling Federation, spoke about the possibility of the Strade Bianche, the first race on the new World Tour calendar, taking place on August 1. He told "Het Laatste Nieuws" newspaper that a no-show race is also possible.

Today, organizers of the Palio di Siena horse race in Siena announced the cancellation of the race due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. how the Strade Bianche, which was scheduled to take place on July 2 and August 16, will be held. The cancellation raises questions as to how the Strade Bianche, which was scheduled to take place on July 2 and August 16, will be held.

"In Italy, they are confident they will do well. In Italy, I am sure they will do well," Van Damme said. [Running without spectators is just as possible as racing on a closed circuit. The course can be adjusted. The starting point is that nothing is normal this year. And let's save what we can and do what we can. Organizers will have to adapt."

Other measures have been raised in other sports to map out a return plan, such as mass athlete testing and quarantine measures if an athlete tests positive for coronavirus. In the world of cycling, however, similar safety measures have yet to be developed.

Van Dam said he hopes that normalcy will be maintained in the race itself, even if the race is spectator-free.

"Will athletes be able to experience their sport together? I hope so. Without contact, team sports will fall apart. We need to find out what can and cannot be done. Should we inspect? Should we isolate riders? Do we need to take other measures? ...... We don't know yet."

The Strade Bianche, one of the first races postponed due to COVID-19, is scheduled to open the Italian racing season, but with Il Lombardia and Milan-San Remo moving to August and the possibility of the Italian national championship moving in another direction, It may be revisited once more.