For the second time in two weeks, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) brought together all representatives of professional road cycling’s families – AIOCC (organisers), AIGCP (teams) and CPA (riders) – on Wednesday 1 April to discuss the situation of professional road cycling linked to the coronavirus pandemic.
Following the meeting, given the severity of the health situation throughout the world, the UCI and its stakeholders unanimously decided to prolong the suspension of cycling competitions until 1 June 2020, and until further notice. The UCI also decided that this extension would apply to all cycling disciplines and all categories of riders.
In its role of governing body of our sport, the UCI is working on a framework for the future UCI International Road Calendar, based on its exchanges with the stakeholders and giving priority to the three Grands Tours and cycling’s Monuments. The result of this internal work will be communicated when the conditions are right.
Confirming the principle of a prolongation of the men’s and women’s road season, announced on 18 March, the UCI does not exclude the possibility of pushing back the end of the season depending on the date racing resumes, when this is known.
Fully aware of the consequences of the current crisis on the professional peloton, the UCI and cycling’s families also approved the creation of a working group, composed of representatives of our Federation, the CPA and the AIGCP, which will come up with concrete initiatives concerning notably the riders’ contracts and the situation of the teams in the context of the current inactivity linked to the pandemic.
To date, the UCI has received more than 450 requests for the postponement or cancellation of events, of which a large majority concern road cycling.
In this extremely difficult context, the UCI – as cycling’s world body – will continue its consultations with the different families to find the best solutions for our sport. In this period of widespread incertitude, which is weakening the financial situation of all involved, the UCI again calls on everyone to be united, responsible and strong.
Source: UCI Web Official