Stéphane Delcourt, Futuroscope Team Manager for FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine, called for solidarity among women's cycling officials as the race, postponed due to the COVID-19 epidemic, is rescheduled.

"Race organizers, team managers, women riders, national associations, federations ...... and all stakeholders! Let's unite to save the women's peloton and build a better future," Delcourt posted on Twitter on Sunday.

Of the 22-round Women's World Tour this year, only one event was held, and 14 were canceled or postponed due to the new coronavirus pandemic. Currently, only eight tournaments remain on the original schedule.

The UCI has suspended all cycling races until July 1, but is working with race organizers to decide on a schedule change and create a calendar for the second half of the season.

The sport's governing body announced the broad outlines of the new calendar on Wednesday, prioritizing three Grand Tours, five Monuments, the World Championships, European Championships, and national championships.

A press release noted that a revised UCI Women's WorldTour calendar and a new version of the entire UCI International calendar (men's and women's races across all cycling disciplines) will be released by May 15.

The Cyclist Alliance Rider Council, an association of professional women riders, wrote an open letter to the UCI on Friday expressing concern that women's cycling is underrepresented in the ongoing debate over the pandemic and race rescheduling.

The eight-athlete council to be selected includes 2019 Women's WorldTour winner Marianne Vos and her CCC-Liv teammate Ashley Moolman-Pasio, Amanda Spratt (Mitchelton Scott), Ellen van Dijk and Audrey Coll. Don-Lago (both Trek Segafredo), Christine Majerus (Boels Dolmans), Leah Kirchman (Sunweb), and professional mountain biker Ariane Luthi.

Cycling News understands that the CPA women's chapter, led by Alessandra Cappelotto, has discussed the women's calendar with the UCI. She told Cycling News that the most recent meeting with the UCI was on Friday, April 17, and specifically discussed the women's race calendar.

Delcourt stressed that while it is important for all stakeholders in women's cycling to work closely with the UCI to come up with a new calendar, public health in the COVID-19 pandemic should be a top priority.

"This is not a time of division, but of solidarity; let us join hands with the UCI and be strong together. It is essential if we want to relive our great moments together," he wrote.

"Right now, health protection is our top priority.