Tour of Flanders CEO Thomas van den Spiegel welcomed the revised World Tour calendar released by the UCI on Tuesday, but the Belgian CEO stressed that plans to resume racing in the fall are tentative due to the coronavirus pandemic He stated.

The COVID-19 outbreak interrupted the March cycling season and caused the postponement of the spring classics. The Tour de Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège monuments will now be held in October, when the Giro d'Italia will be held.

The Ghent-Wevelgem and Tour of Flanders Classics will take place on October 11 and October 18, respectively, while the Doire de Flanderen will be held on Wednesday, October 14. Paris-Roubaix will be held on October 25, including the women's edition.

"The many consultations that have taken place over the past months between all parties involved in cycling have borne fruit," Van den Spiegel said in a statement on Tuesday. 'Today, the UCI has given us a clear view. This calendar gives us new goals to work towards. It is good to get back to work, but at the same time we recognize the current situation.

"Therefore, these dates are not certain and are still tentative. We will continue to monitor the situation and the final decision will, of course, depend on the measures implemented in our country at that time."

Belgium has banned all rallies until at least August 31, and the UCI has not scheduled any World Tour events in the country until September 30, when the ASO-sponsored Flèche Wallonne takes place. Liège-Bastogne-Liège will be held on October 4.

The Flanders Classic confirmed on Tuesday that the 2020 Ghent-Wevelgem route, which will take place on October 11, will not cross the French border as originally planned.

"The traditional passage of the French national road will not take place in this event; due to the COVID-19 virus, it is not appropriate to hold a cross-border event," Flanders Classics said in a statement, but the organizers declared that the "DNA of the race" will be preserved, and Molen, Plugstreet, Kemmelberg, and others will be featured.

Flanders Classics also stated that Ghent-Wevelgem will only host elite men and elite women in 2020, with all under-17, junior, and under-23 races cancelled.

"The possibility of 700 youth cyclists from all over the world entering the race is still too uncertain to make a short-term commitment.

Ghent-Wevelgem is scheduled to take place the day after the Amstel Gold Race according to the revised UCI calendar. Flanders Classic stated that it is in discussions with Leo van Fleet, director of the Amstel Gold Race, with a view to coordinating both events.

"Both organizers are talking together to make the Amstel Gold Race a logical and organized "two-day cycling festival." This is especially important for the women's peloton, which has few staff, logistics, and riders at its disposal."