The 2020 UCI Road World Championships could move away from Switzerland if the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic forces further changes to the revised cycling calendar announced by the sport's governing body last week.

The UCI's premier event, which was scheduled to take place in Aigle Martigny from September 20-27, could instead be moved to Oman, Qatar, or the United Arab Emirates and held in November if racing in the current slot becomes impossible, according to Marca.

World Championships fees are the UCI's single largest source of revenue, approaching 11 million Swiss francs (about $9.1 million) in 2017 and 2018, the majority of which comes from the Road World Championships. As a result, the UCI has decided to host some form of competition again this year.

Last week, Gregory Deveau, co-chair of the 2020 Road World Championships Organizing Committee, said that a decision on the World Championships would be made by the end of June, but if the Swiss-hosted race is not held this year, it could be postponed to 2026 or 2027.

"It is certainly a celebration of cycling, but not at any cost. We need to be consistent in the decisions we make and we cannot be stubborn," he told Radio Télévision Suisse.

"With the current configuration, it's either this fall or never. On the other hand, we could postpone it to a later date, like 2026 or 2027, but that would probably be a different model."

According to a report in Marca, Middle Eastern countries such as Oman, Qatar, and the UAE have been mentioned as alternative hosts for the World Cup. However, the calendar is packed from the Strade Bianche in early August to the end of the Vuelta a España in early November, and it would take several months to reorganize the week-long race, so the event would be held two months after the Vuelta.

All of these countries have experience hosting top-level cycling events, including the Tour of Oman, the 2016 World Championships in Doha, the Tour of Qatar, and the UAE Tour.

As with other races held at the end of the year, the hosting of the World Championships depends on the decision of national authorities, which currently restrict sporting and public events in countries around the world.

"These dates, which are important for all concerned, are of course contingent on the lifting of restrictions on the holding of events implemented by the authorities in the regions concerned until the end of the season.

"The situation is changing and the UCI may need to adjust its calendar to take into account the progress of the pandemic.