Several Irish riders had their racing plans scuppered in Belgium today when changes to Covid-19 restrictions meant some teams couldn't start Districtenpijl Ekeren-Deurne (UCI 1.2) and then the race was cancelled anyway due to extreme weather.
Irish team EvoPro Racing were on the start line but missed out on getting a race in when things got very risky not long after the start. There were several crashes and punctures in the opening 10km due to an extreme downpour.
And when flash flooding caused by the heavy rain worsened, with the roads unsafe due to the sheer volume of water, the organisers called a halt to the action after 20km and the race was eventually cancelled.
Two other Irish riders, Leo Doyle of Tempo Hoppenbouwers and Cian Keogh of Willebrord Wil Vooruit, were also due to ride the 180km race, which is part of the Lotto Cycling Cup.
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However, their Dutch teams were scuppered by the new Covid-19 restrictions in Belgium and they were unable to take to the start line; perhaps just as well given the conditions and eventual race cancellation after just 20km.
The women's race was also hit by the bad weather, but the cancellation of that event proved more complicated. The organisers initially planned to shorten the race and announced it would be just one lap. However, that news was only relayed to the riders with 3km to go to the finish in the shortened race.
As a result, not all of those who were still racing got the message. And while some of the riders raced for the finish line it was decided the results would be void and the race ruled cancelled due to the confusion.
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