The CIC-Tour Feminin International des Pyrénées has been cancelled after two stages over safety concerns (see videos below), meaning today's third and final stage did not go ahead.
The unusual move to stop the race, which is a major embarrassment for the race organisers and the UCI, comes after stage 1 was marred by the riders meeting civilian traffic on the course. They were forced to weave around oncoming cars and buses, including in the final kilometres, and even had to overtake one car - driven by a member of the public - in the final kilometre.
While the safety situation had improved during yesterday's stage 2, the decision was taken this morning to discontinue the race and the final general classification is taken from the GC after yesterday's second stage.
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The UCI issued a statement, via social media, confirming the race was being stopped, saying: "To maintain the safety of the riders, the UCI has taken the decision to stop the Tour des Pyrénées. After consulting with key stakeholders of the event, including the CPA, teams, commissaires, and the organising committee, today’s stage will not go ahead."
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The statement followed concerns already raised by Adam Hansen, the president of the CPA, the professional cyclists' union for men and women. Hansen held talks with the race organisers and teams after the scenes on stage 1, though the riders still held a protest on yesterday's stage 2.
They stopped the race and effectively neutralised the stage until they reached the bottom of the summit finish climb of Hautacam, where Marta Cavalli (FDJ-SUEZ) won the stage and took the yellow jersey from stage 1 winner, Ashleigh Moolman (AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step) by just three seconds.
Today's stage, some 126km from Nay to Bosdarros, promised to be a great race as the general classification was so tight, though it has now been cancelled due to safety concerns and Cavalli has been declared the race winner.
Some of the teams had already decided not to field their riders on the final stage, including Jumbo Visma, before the news of the race cancellation emerged.
Jumbo Visma said while "the situation on day two was significantly better than during the first stage" it was not willing to put its riders into a race where it had safety concerns, adding its riders "do not consider it responsible to ride the third stage".
