Giro d'Italia race director Mauro Veni remains optimistic amid growing doubts about major sporting events in Europe following news that the fall race calendar will be further delayed COVID-19 As the first wave of the pandemic subsides, countries are making tentative plans to be free of the blockade, but major sporting events are not a top priority.

"It's a very complicated situation, and I think we'll know more in a week or so," Veni told Tuttobiciweb.

"Even though the situation is very complicated, we have to remain optimistic. We'll see how many races and which ones I'll be able to attend."

The veteran race organizer has spent the past few weeks fighting to protect the Giro d'Italia and other major races owned by RCS Sport. The Giro d'Italia will be held from October 3 to 25, the Strade Bianche on August 1, Milan-San Remo on August 8, and Il Lombardia on October 31.

The Vuelta a España announced Wednesday that it will abandon its scheduled start in the Netherlands and reduce the race to the remaining 18 stages starting in the Basque Country.

The UCI was scheduled to confirm the dates Wednesday, including the RCS Sport event, after French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe banned all major sporting events until September and warned of a very gradual end to France's strict COVID-19 blockade, The dates were not announced.

The Tour de France was postponed from July to August 29 to September 20, putting these dates and especially the Grande Palais in Nice at risk.

"The French Prime Minister's declaration is very blunt and the UCI is obliged to check the actual situation in each country.

"As our Federation recently reiterated, the recent measures taken by several European governments to restrict mass sporting events must be taken into account when establishing the UCI International Calendar for the resumption of cycling," the UCI announced.

Veni has participated in all the conference calls, discussions, and controversies regarding the new race calendar, even accusing rivals of trying to damage the Giro d'Italia. speaking to Tuttobiciweb, Veni said of the fate of the men's pro road later this year, "I'm not optimistic. He tried to remain optimistic, but seemed resigned to the fact that there will be few, if any, races in 2020.

"There's not much we can do, we just have to wait and see," Veni said.