Deceuninck-QuickStep doctor not requesting cancellation of Italian races despite coronavirus fears

Deceuninck-QuickStep at the 2020 Volta ao Algarve
Deceuninck-QuickStep at the 2020 Volta ao Algarve (Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

While doctors from 11 teams have signed a letter addressed to governing body the UCI and race organisers RCS Sport and ASO requesting the cancellation of upcoming Italian and French races Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico, Milan-San Remo and Paris-Nice, Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad reported on Wednesday that Deceuninck-QuickStep's doctor, Yvan Vanmol, was conscientiously not among the signatories.

Although RCS Sport have yet to formally cancel their Italian spring races – meetings will be held on Thursday to discuss the matter – it seems highly likely that they will have to be rescheduled, as RCS Sport head Mauro Vegni has suggested, for June or September. Additionally, the Italian government has issued a decree calling for the cancellation of sporting and public events for the next month, although it would appear that there's still hope that bike racing, conducted as it is in the open air, may yet be exempt.

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