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Coronavirus live updates

The pack rides through a gravel road during the oneday classic cycling race Strade Bianche White Roads on March 9 2019 around Siena Tuscany Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO AFP Photo credit should read MARCO BERTORELLOAFP via Getty Images

Strade Bianche, which has been cancelled (Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

Situation summary

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Welcome to a special edition of our live coverage, in which we'll keep you up to date with the fast-moving news on Covid-19 coronavirus.

It's been a busy morning so far, with a number of coronavirus news stories surfacing already.

RCS Sport boss Vegni speaks

UAE quarantines for French squads

Some light relief among all the bad news – here's Cofidis riders Nathan Haas and Attilio Viviani with their tips on how to keep fit while in quarantine.

Four riders test positive for virus

UAE Team Emirates rider Diego Ulissi is among the men still in the country after his team voluntarily stayed behind as a precautionary measure.

Statement from Lotto manager Lelangue

Unions meet with UCI boss Lappartient

Vegni suggests alternative race dates

Parkhotel Valkenburg withdraw from races

Jumbo-Visma pull out of Strade Bianche

Earlier today, Jumbo-Visma team boss Richard Plugge called on the UCI to show strong leadership and clarity going forward.

Here's our news story on Jumbo-Visma' decision to pull out of this weekend's race in Italy.

Pro team doctors request race cancellations

Meanwhile, in the UAE, Groupama-FDJ rider is looking for ways to make time in quarantine (another nine days) go by quicker.

Team travel plans for Strade Bianche in disarray

Mitchelton-Scott withdraw from March races

The UCI's rulebook does have regulations (2.15.128 if you're interested) against the 'unjustified absence' of WorldTour teams at WorldTour races, with cumulative fines and escalating suspensions up to revokation of the WorldTour license.

CCC-Liv are the latest team to withdraw from a race, opting out of Strade Bianche Women on Saturday. 

Coronavirus: Mitchelton-Scott withdraw from all men's and women's racing until March 22

Back in the UAE and riders are finally receiving their bikes on day six of their quarantine in an Abu Dhabi hotel. Nathan Haas (Cofidis) and Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ) took to Instagram to rejoice at the chance to get on their ergo trainers after their enforced break.

UCI statement on UAE quarantine

Not all of the team's squads are still in the UAE, however. Several members of Groupama-FDJ were able to leave along with the bulk of the race entourage on Sunday.

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte just made an address live on television to announce that schools and universities in the country will be closed until March 15. There was no word on sporting events, though a statement is expected at some point today.

Groupama-FDJ sprinter Arnaud Démare has talked to L'Equipe about being stuck in quarantine, noting how frustrating the experience has been so far.

Here's our story on the UCI's statement on the UAE coronavirus cases, the first time the sport's governing body has spoken on the matter.

UCI: 'No race cancellations'

So, still we wait for the Italian government to make a decision on the possiblity of banning public and sporting events for the next month.

Groupama-FDJ withdraw from Italian races

So to round things up, that's Jumbo-Visma, Mitchelton-Scott and Groupama-FDJ out of this weekend's racing at Strade Bianche and GP Larciano, while EF Pro Cycling have requested to withdraw from Strade Bianche plus Tirreno-Adriatico and Milan-San Remo.

The Italian government has, in the last few minutes, passed a decree halting all sporting and public events until April 3, barring events that can take place in a closed arena. 

Italian government suspends sporting events

The month's calendar of major races looks quite bare now that the big Italian races are set to be cancelled.

Van der Poel heading to Spain for training camp

The Women's professional rider's union (WCPA) has made a short statement on Twitter, noting the Italian government's decision to cancel sporting events in the country.

RCS Sport issue statement

In light of the statement from RCS Sport, we've updated our article on the Italian government's decision to suspend sporting events in the country until April 3.

World champion Annemiek van Vleuten has expressed her disappointment at not being able to defend his Strade Bianche title on Saturday.

Team Ineos withdraw from upcoming races

What is the Covid-19 coronavirus?

Deceuninck doctor not requesting cancellation of Italian races

Israel Start-Up Nation feeder team quarantined

Vanmarcke on coronavirus: It's a bad situation

Astana stop all racing until March 20

We posted about this yesterday, but riders in quaratine in the UAE have received their bikes and are able to train indoors for the first time since the end of the UAE Tour last weekend.

NTT to continue racing

Here's our news story on Astana's decision to withdraw from racing for the next two weeks.

Belgian colleague Renaat Schotte has reported that the meeting between Strade Bianche organisers RCS Sport and local authorities in Siena is set to begin in five minutes. A communication is due at 2pm CET.

While a number of teams have pulled out of Strade Bianche and other upcoming races, Bora-Hansgrohe are in Italy and are currently out on a recon ride.

Out story on RCS Sport meeting with local authorities in Siena about the plausibility of running Strade Bianche is up. Read it here

'Racing in Italy is like sending people into a fire'

Strade Bianche postponed

AG2R La Mondiale withdraw from Italian races

RCS Sport have informed teams of the decision to postpone Strade Bianche.

It's official – Strade Bianche is off.

The Mayor of Siena, Luigi De Mossi, has told a local newspaper that he's "convinced that the race will only be postponed and not cancelled."

Boels Dolmans are the first team to react to the news.

RCS Sport statements

Deceuninck-QuickStep alter plans

Organisers of the GP Monseré, a Belgian 1.1 race held on Saturday, have said that four spots are available on their start list for teams looking for a race day after Strade Bianche was cancelled.

2018 Strade Bianche winner Anna van der Breggen took to Instagram to say cancelling the race was "maybe the best decision", but added that "still a lot [is] unsure", saying that she doesn't know her next race and that "planning is impossible at the moment."

UAE withdraws, GP Larciano cancelled

Coronavirus: the European picture

More teams pull out of Italian races

Here's an updated look on which teams have withdrawn from which races (with Strade Bianche and GP Larciano both already cancelled).

CCC Team had a wasted trip to Italy, Simon Geschke notes on Twitter.

Eight-rider teams for Paris-Nice

Further news from Paris-Nice – Walloon broadcaster RTBF has reported that Circus-Wanty Gobert received an invitation from ASO following the withdrawals of Astana, Ineos and UAE Team Emirates.

The Italian Cycling Federation released a statement confirming the cancellation of GP Larciano.

CCC Team out of Paris-Nice

Here's our story on the latest glut of news regarding Paris-Nice, which starts on Sunday.

CCC confirm Tirreno-Adriatico and Paris-Nice withdrawal

French newspaper Le Dauphiné libéré have reported that B&B Hotels-Vital Concept have also been extended an invitation to Paris-Nice, making that five teams out and two teams in so far.

Our news story on CCC Team becoming the latest to announce their withdrawal from the upcoming stage races, Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico.

19 teams and 8-man squads confirmed for Paris-Nice

Coronavirus: Israel Start-Up Nation say they'll race wherever it's safe

Circus-Wanty Gobert have released a statement regarding their, until today unexpected participation in Paris-Nice.

Team withdrawal tracker

CCC Team leader Greg Van Avermaet has told Het Laatste Nieuws that he's disappointed by not being able to race Strade Bianche or Tirreno-Adriatico after the cancellation of the former and his team withdrawing from the latter.

Flanders Classics boss: All races on as planned

Canyon-SRAM navigate how best to proceed with spring campaign amid coronavirus fears

Coronavirus: More teams pull out of Italian races after Strade Bianche cancelled

Coronavirus: Women's WorldTour Trofeo Alfredo Binda postponed until June 2

Bardet to race Paris-Nice in readiness for rest of season

Change of plan for Peter Sagan as Bora-Hansgrohe rider joins Paris-Nice roster

Movistar out of Paris-Nice

Het Nieuwsblad reports that Deceuninck-QuickStep's Covid-19 precautions at Paris-Nice include cancelling their press race press conference and replacing it with a video conference. "We understand that this is not an ideal situation, but we count on your understanding during these special circumstances," said the team.

Coronavirus: Movistar withdraw from all racing until March 22

La Gazzetta dello Sport has reported this morning that riders and staff who were present at the UAE Tour, as well as those travelling from the Lombardy and Veneto regions of northern Italy, have been asked not to participate in Paris-Nice.

An ASO spokesperson has told Cyclingnews that the Paris-Nice organisation has not placed any restrictions on riders and staff present at the UAE Tour or resident in northern Italy, contrary to what is reported in La Gazzetta dello Sport. Therefore, riders who raced in the UAE, like Sam Bennett (Deceuninck-QuickStep) and Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal), are permitted to compete in Paris-Nice, as are those travelling from Lombardy and the Veneto.

Tirreno-Adriatico and Milan-San Remo officially postponed

RCS Sport has added that it will seek replacement dates for the cancelled races later in the year: "RCS Sport will request the UCI, via the Italian Cycling Federation, to allocate new dates on the international cycling calendar for the three races, as has already been requested for Strade Bianche and Strade Bianche Women Elite."

Milan-San Remo has been held every year bar three since the inaugural edition in 1907. The was no race in 1916 due to World War I, and in 1944 and 1945 due to World War II. Indeed, the last time a Monument was cancelled was that 1945 Milan-San Remo, as the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liege-Bastogne-Liege and Tour of Lombardy were all held that year. 

You can read more about the postponement of Milan-San Remo, Tirreno-Adriatico and Giro di Sicilia in our news article.

Following CCC Team's withdrawal from Paris-Nice and the since postponed Tirreno-Adriatico, Greg Van Avermaet will train in Sierra Nevada for the next two weeks as he prepares for the cobbled Classics. “It’s disappointing not to be racing at this point in the year before the main Classics but I respect the team’s decision and understand that our health is the most important thing," Van Avermaet said in a team statement

Deceuninck-QuickStep have redeployed a number of their cobbled Classics riders from Tirreno-Adriatico to Paris-Nice, with Bob Jungels, Zdenek Stybar and Kasper Asgreen all set to line up in France. Remco Evenepoel, meanwhile, is likely to replace Tirreno-Adriatico with the Volta a Catalunya, according to La Dernière Heure.

Jumbo-Visma pulls out of Paris-Nice

Read our story on Jumbo-Visma pulling out of Paris-Nice.

Jumbo-Visma stars Wout van Aert and George Bennett react to the team withdrawing from Paris-Nice.

The Dutch squad have joined the start list of the Ronde van Drenthe, along with Total Direct Énergie, reports RTV Drenthe.

Amid all the chaos, it's easy to forget that Paris-Nice is still going ahead, albeit without seven WorldTour teams. Find out how to watch the race, which start on Sunday in our guide.

Deceuninck-QuickStep have unveiled their Paris-Nice squad. The team made changes to their proposed lineup for the French race after the cancellation of Strade Bianche and Tirreno-Adriatico saw several riders facing a gap in their schedule ahead of the spring Classics.

Mitchelton-Scott is set to launch an online racing series in order to "pay homage" to the cancelled Strade Bianche races.

It doesn't sound like Matteo Trentin and Wout van Aert have heard about the new online gravel race yet... The pair are on Twitter joking about some rather old-fashioned summer cyclo-cross racing, after their CCC and Jumbo-Visma teams pulled out of upcoming races, including Paris-Nice

Coronavirus: Deceuninck-QuickStep believe it is safe to race Paris-Nice

Nibali confirmed for Paris-Nice

Here's our story on Mitchelton-Scott's decision launch a virtual ride series amid coronavirus race cancellations

Velon has taken the decision to suspend Hammer Stavanger, which was due to be held on May 22-24. The organisation lay the blame at the door of the UCI, accusing the sport's governing body of "discrimination and anti-competitive behaviour."

Cycling's coronavirus crisis – Podcast featuring Vaughters and Matt White

Unrelated to the coronavirus crisis, some further news on Nicolas Portal, who passed away on Tuesday.

Stars head to Paris-Nice after Tirreno-Adriatico cancellation

Our Paris-Nice preview is up. Click here to check out information the riders who will take part and the route they'll be racing on until next Sunday.

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