NTT Pro Cycling director Bjarne Riis said that pro cycling must remain united as it tries to survive the COVID-19 pandemic, the same team that said it would withdraw Team Ineos from the Tour de France if it felt the race was unsafe He criticized the director, Dave Brailsford. Reese made it clear that he trusts the UCI and the race organizers to ensure the safety of the riders so that the race can resume, and that he is prepared to save the team from disaster.

He confirmed that he had agreed with the riders and staff to reduce salaries during the COVID-19 epidemic so that the team could compete in the fall, when World Tour races such as the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, and Vuelta a España are expected to take place.

The team is attempting to negotiate a sponsorship extension with NTT, a global technology services company, and Danish window brand Velux could become the 2021 title sponsor. Despite being caught in a perfect storm of uncertainty, Riis and Ryder put on a brave face.

"I disagree with Brailsford, who said last week he would decide if it was safe," Riis said bluntly.

"It's not up to him to decide. It's for the government and the organizers to decide. I know Christian Prudhomme very well. He will not run an unsafe Tour."

"Everyone in cycling has to work together. We have to do what is best for cycling, not for ourselves. So I am not happy with Brailsford's statement. It is selfish. At this point, it's not about me, it's about the sport as a whole."

Lasse and the riders seemed ready to accept that the race would be held in a closed and controlled environment so that at least part of the race calendar, especially the Tour de France, could be preserved and provide some return on investment for sponsors and true racing for fans

"If you want it to be 100% safe, you probably have to stay in your country for two or three years. If it's not safe, I don't think the UCI would let the race continue.

"I learned a lot in Paris-Nice and felt safe. It is not up to me or you to decide, we have to let the experts decide."

"Cycling needs to continue. But we can hope that there will be spectators. The important thing is to race," the rider said.

Riis and Ryder have weekly catch-ups with all the riders and staff, and the Directeur Sportif and coaches are in more frequent contact to give the riders emotional support, help them focus on training, and compensate for weaknesses with COVID-19 Lock downs.

According to Cycling News, the riders have offered to accept a reduced salary in order to keep the team alive and in hopes that NTT will extend their sponsorship beyond 2021.

The riders acknowledged that their budgets had been cut, in part due to a shortfall in race start costs and expenses, but did not provide details or specific figures; under UCI rules, no rider can be paid less than the UCI minimum wage of €38,000.

"To help the long-term sustainability of the team, we have adjusted the salaries between riders and staff. We know this is a defining year for us." It's a very difficult time to talk to sponsors right now."

"For many teams, including ours, it is very important that the race is held again this year and that it is in a safe environment. If the race doesn't happen, it's a big deal for the teams. We are lucky to have great partners who support us."

"Every team is different, but no sponsor pays their entire budget on January 1," Ryder noted. [29] "Not racing means the teams are losing money, and that's a big deal. Many entry fees are paid early in the season, such as for the Spring Classics and the Giro d'Italia, to cover the team's operating expenses.

"Some sponsors defer payment until the races resume. It's a very complicated puzzle for any team. The biggest piece is salaries and people, and we are trying to address that the right way.

Riis confirmed that he and his business partner still have to complete the purchase of the team's shares, but he and Ryder brushed aside any doubts that the deal might not work, saying they are doing well and focused on making the team the best in the peloton He insisted.

Riis seemed to bring clear vision, sporting leadership, and determination to the team, with Giacomo Nizzolo winning a stage at the Tour Down Under and Paris-Nice. Max Warscheid also won two stages at the Tour de Langkawi.

Riis is confident that when the season resumes, the riders will be ready to race and win again. He seemed to relish the challenge of competing in three Grand Tours, a classic, and other races in just three and a half months, from August to November.

"The most important thing is to be ready from the beginning. I'm already ready. [It will be a tough race, tough logistics. Everyone needs to work hard. We have to deal with it. We know that [tomorrow] things could change. All we can do is stay strong and be ready when we need to be ready. We can cry and not know what to do, or we can use this situation to be creative and smart. We want to do that as a team."

Riis is still considered "persona non grata" in the sports world, as he admitted to doping in his career and was accused of helping Tyler Hamilton dope on the CSC team.

Since his return to NTT Pro Cycling this winter, Riis appears to be more remorseful and apologetic. He called on figures like Brailsford to offer constructive suggestions on how to improve the sport after the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Maybe this is an opportunity to make things better," Riis suggested of cycling's fragile business model.

"Stakeholders like teams, race organizers, and riders need to come together to talk and build the right relationships. They are always fighting and I have never seen that. I hope they start racing soon and that leadership will be shown in the future."