World News – AU – Tour Down Under 2021 on the verge of cancellation due to Covid-19 – Cycling Weekly

The 2020 Tour Down Under is on hold due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, with race organizers due to make a decision on whether it will take place in January next week

Stage racing usually opens the WorldTour season, with European-based riders enjoying some warm weather and, for those who have found a new job, the opportunity to meet their new teammates

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Concerns about the safety of pilots around the world as Europe begins to face a second wave of the pandemic are being taken seriously, however, with organizers still trying to find a way to race, which brings millions of dollars to the South Australian economy, safe enough to take place

« There are a lot of moving parts to making a decision like this There are so many stakeholders, and we have worked closely with them to ensure that we get the best possible outcome for all parties involved, ”said the Tour Down Under in a statement

“The Santos Tour Down Under is an important event for South Australia, and it is for this reason that we make sure to take as much time as necessary to fully consider whether it is possible to offer a Santos Tour. Safe and successful Down Under for South Australia, our event partners, the UCI and the teams « 

The race is currently considering alternative scenarios if they are unable to hold the men’s and women’s races in January, as the 2020 calendar has been forced to play fast and loose with where the races are expected to take place throughout the year They will also try to organize at least some sort of cycling event for their region in January.

« We also considered other scenarios if we fail to host the Santos Tour Down Under with the UCI men’s and women’s races in January, including how to present cycling in one form or another in South Australia in January, « the statement continued

Australia managed to stop a second wave of the coronavirus developing in August, one of their last winter months, and now only records a handful of new cases each day as cases in European countries are multiplying by tens of thousands as they enter their coldest months

The 2020 season is set to end unusually late on November 9, when the Vuelta a España reaches Madrid, with the WorldTour scheduled to resume on January 19 with the Tour Down Under

The Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race then takes place on January 31 before the start of the UAE Tour on February 21, with the Middle East stage race being scrapped last year after a coronavirus outbreak forced several teams at lockdown

Santos Tour Down Under, 2021, Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race