Organizers of the Clasica San Sebastián and Iturria Basque have cancelled the 2020 World Tour event.

The Basque Tour had been postponed since early April, and organizers had hoped to reschedule it for later in the year. However, with countries banning large events until the end of August, and the crowded timing of the Tour de France three months after the event, Basque organizers were forced to take a risky early August.

"It pains me to tell you this news," said Julián Eraso, president of organizer OCETA.

"After Ituria's postponement was announced, we contacted the UCI directly. Ituria Basque would have taken place in the first week of August, and Clasica San Sebastián could have been contested on the Sunday of that week. However, given everything that is happening right now, I don't think it is the right time to hold a major event."

The UCI also contacted the Spanish Ministry of Culture and Sport, who said, "We are very happy with the way the UCI is going.

Spain has been hit hard by COVID-19 since March and is under the most severe blockade. Riders are not allowed to train outdoors, and on Sunday, for the first time since mid-March, children were allowed to go out for an hour a day.

Spain has seen more than 23,000 deaths attributed to COVID-19, but the number of new cases per day has begun to decline in recent weeks. The country has announced phased measures to lift the blockade, but organizers of the World Tour race did not want to take the risk to continue their efforts in 2020.

"Our race mobilizes thousands of people inside and outside the event. Given the circumstances, we cannot contribute to a new resurgence or proliferation of the virus," Eraso said.

"Furthermore, we do not believe it is time to ask the town council or any other agency for assistance. Now is the time to give back to society a portion of everything they have given us over the years, and we hope that the agencies will invest the funds they have allocated for the race to return it to normalcy and save lives."

With the postponement of the Olympics, the UCI's 2021 calendar is still under discussion; OCETA is currently focused on organizing the 2021 races, with Ituria tentatively scheduled for April 5-10, 2021, and San Sebastian on July 31.