The UCI on Tuesday announced a revised 2020 Women's World Tour calendar, replacing plans that were cancelled due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. The top series maintains 18 of the 22 tournaments, which will run from August 1 through November 8, with the surprise addition of the first-ever women's Paris-Roubaix.

"I believe [holding the calendar revision] is very important for our sport," Lapartiento said Tuesday in an online interview conference with international journalists. [Of course, hosting the 2020 season will be a big challenge for some teams. But if we don't host the 2020 season, it will be an even bigger challenge and we will probably lose more teams. That is why it is so important to host the 2020 season and why we are pushing so hard to host the race with all the possibilities we have."

"Regarding the crisis, we have always unanimously taken the same line in the stakeholder meetings. But with regard to the calendar and all the decisions we made during this period, it was a challenge: between the UCI and the three families of riders, teams and organizers, it was all unanimous. This crisis brought unity around the table."

"The UCI was very supportive of the UCI, and the UCI was very supportive of the UCI.

The COVID-19 coronavirus hit the women's calendar particularly hard, with 14 of the top 22 Women's World Tour events cancelled or postponed; the UCI suspended the men's and women's World Tour races until August 1: Rondo van Drenthe, Trofeo Alfredo Vinda Cittiglio, and the Women's Tour in Britain.

La Partiente emphasized that the revised calendar announced is highly dependent on the development status of the COVID-19 virus and the health precautions and guidelines stipulated in each country.

"The situation is moving globally, and we are well aware that no one knows what the exact situation will be in a couple of months," Lapartiento said. 'Maybe we'll be in a situation where there's no cycling--that scenario is possible, and I'm fully aware of that. But we believe it is our mission to prepare a second part of the season, and if we can prepare a second part, we hope so."

The revised calendar for the announced UCI Women's World Tour (open in new tab) begins with the Strade Bianche on August 1 and ends with the Serratigit Madrid Challenge by La Vuelta on November 8.

The series will feature 18 events, including five stage races, including the shortened Giro Rosa (September 11-19). There will also be 13 one-day events including La Course (August 29), three Ardennes Classics (Flèche Wallonne (September 30), Liège-Bastogne-Liège (October 4), and Amstel Gold Race (October 10)), Tour de Flanders (October 18), and the new Paris-Roubaix (October There will also be 13 one-day races, including the new Paris-Roubaix (October 25).

La Partiente has long supported Paris-Roubaix for women, and two years ago he expressed his dream that ASO would host a women's version of this iconic men's classic. He said that the UCI had pressured the ASO to hold a women's one-day race on its calendar later in the season to promote gender equality

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"Having a women's Paris-Roubaix is good for us. I have had very productive discussions with the ASO.

"They too believe it is a great opportunity for women's cycling. Look, we started the Women's World Tour reinvention this year with a new world team. However, the start of this new series will be fraught with difficulties. I believe that Paris-Roubaix is one of the greatest classics in the world and for me there is no reason not to host Paris-Roubaix (women).

"We have had a positive reception from the ASO and for us it means that gender equality is moving in the right direction. With the new Women's World Tour and team, and races like this one, and the big stage races we need, it's really moving. Yes, it's great (to have a women's Paris-Roubaix) and I've seen some very positive comments on social media."

"I think it's important for women to have the same opportunities as men."

The revised women's calendar includes the classics that the UCI has tried to avoid in the past, the Drieder Ges Brugge des Pins and Paris-Roubaix, and the Tour of Guangxi in China and the Tour of Chongming Island in China. According to La Partiente, the two competitions to be held in China are still in the discussion stage because the government has not yet agreed to open up health regulations to sporting events. If these two tournaments are held, it will give Asian teams more options for competing.

In April, the UCI announced new dates for the Tour de France, from August 29 to September 20. However, ASO could not confirm the new dates for the women's one-day race, "La Course."

ASO and the UCI agreed to hold this event in Nice on August 29, the beginning of the Tour de France, rather than at the original location, which was linked to the final stage of the men's race in Paris. It was agreed.

"There was, of course, discussion of holding La Course by Le Tour either at the final stage of the Tour de France or at the start of the race. We believe that a Tour de France in Nice would be a great opportunity for women."

"This has been discussed with the UCI. We don't know what format it will be in Paris, but it could be a challenging race as well, so it would be great to have this race in Nice."

Part of the Women's World Tour reform included a requirement that event promoters host a 45-minute live TV broadcast. La Partiento confirmed that this requirement would remain in the revised calendar, although he warned of duplication with other sports.

"The 45-minute live broadcast remains in the organizers' guidelines, which we want to adhere to," Lapartiento said. [We may have to adapt a bit during the racing season, as it may overlap with the men's and other sports. Keeping this 45 minutes live is still within our guidelines."

The UCI also confirmed that the maximum number of riders can be fixed at five (usually six or seven) for women's World Tour events. This measure will allow organizers to invite more teams (up to 26 teams versus 24 normally).

In addition, all UCI Women's World Teams will be able to participate in C1 category competitions, increasing from three to five teams in C2 competitions.

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