The Tour of Chongming Island has been cancelled for the third consecutive year due to the COVID-19 epidemic, the UCI announced.

This Chinese stage race was supposed to be closer to this year's Women's World Tour after the women's and men's Tour of Guangxi was canceled last week. However, the sport's governing body announced Tuesday that the three-day event will not take place this October.

"In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the UCI must announce that the UCI Women's World Tour event, the Tour of Chongming Island, which was scheduled to take place from October 13-15, 2022, has been cancelled," the UCI said in a statement.

"This cancellation follows a decision taken by the event organizers as COVID-19 pandemic measures continue to apply.

Of the 26 Women's World Tour events announced for early 2022, there are now 23 events remaining, with the season opener, the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, also cancelled.

The season will conclude with the Tour de Romandie Feminine in Switzerland on October 9. The race will run for three days and will conclude the 67-day 2022 WWT.

"The end date for the 2022 road season remains October 18, as confirmed by the recent UCI Management Committee meeting.

." The UCI would like to thank the competition organizers and the Chinese Cycling Federation for their cooperation and the understanding of the riders, teams and officials in this difficult situation."

The Tour of Chongming Island has been held since 2007 and was elevated to the Women's World Tour when the event was created in 2016.

Ina-Joko Teutenberg, who has won four stage races and one-day races combined (currently only stage races), is the record holder for wins in this race; in the last edition in 2019, Lorena Wiebes won the race, winning all three stages.

The Women's World Tour continues with the Giro d'Italia Donne on June 30.