RCS Sport, which promotes a host of pro cycling races including Milan-Sanremo next month and a Giro d’Italia in May, says the coronavirus poses a risk to both events.
RCS director Mauro Vegni said his organisation would monitor the sudden outbreak of the coronavirus and any further restrictions on travel, businesses and public gatherings.
These restrictions have already been put in place in the Lombardy and Veneto regions of northern Italy and six deaths have been reported due ti the virus.
There are six stages of the Giro planned in both regions and Milan-Sanremo begins in Lombardy.
Vegni said with some sports events, including Serie A pro soccer games, already cancelled; if the authorities requested Milan-Sanremo be cancelled or the Giro, RCS Sport would have no choice but to comply.
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Because Milan-Sanremo takes place in one month, Vegni said there was most concern about it. But he was also worried about the Giro.
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While Tirreno-Adriatico and Strade-Bianchi are both also coming up, those races are not in the regions hit by the coronavirus so far.
“There is no ‘Plan B,’” Vegni said of Milan-San Remo. “If the government confirms a blockage
of sport in Milan and Lombardy, we would have to cancel it.”
He added while in
theory part of Milan-Sanremo could be cut out and a new route found for the
early parts of the race, he did not believe this was an option.
“It makes no sense to move the start 20 or 50 kilometers. The race has been the same for 110
years.
“I cannot
say anything about the Giro d’Italia. But it is clear that if the (spread of the coronavirus) is not
mitigated, there is a risk that it could be canceled too.
“We are
also very concerned about the spread of the virus, because the situation in
Italy is very problematic.
“I hope that the spike of the coronavirus will decrease.
We are dependent on what the authorities decide.”
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