Under normal circumstances, Esteban Chavez would be competing in Amstel Gold this weekend to get his form and fitness in shape for the Ardennes Classic. Instead, the Colombian climber is boosting his morale by participating in a Zwift ride in Bogota.

Rider Mitchelton Scott watched as the AMO and UCI boldly announced Calendar 2.0 last week, but the former Giro d'Italia runner-up remains cautious when it comes to setting season goals.

After all, Colombia has been on lockdown for quite some time due to the coronavirus pandemic, international flights have been shut down, and the situation in mainland Europe is hardly better. Colombia's current restrictions will last at least until April 27, but Chaves expects them to last until May.

"Depending on whether my goal is the beginning or the end of the new season, the team is thinking about their health and wellbeing," he told Cycling News from his base in Bogotá.

"It is hard to say that we will be on the first flight as soon as the borders open. There are risks involved in that. Right now, everything is closed in Colombia. There are no flights. There's nothing."

"I try to train twice a day because I don't like to train for long hours on the trainer. I do an hour to an hour and a half in the morning and then I do the same thing again later that day."

The UCI and ASO announced plans last week to hold the Tour de France in late August or September. No dates have been set for the Giro or Vuelta, but planning the Tour at this point is itself a public health issue.

Chaves understands cycling's need to get back on its feet, but was surprised at the speed with which the governing body planned the new course.

"I saw that the UCI has set up some dates with ASO, which to me is pretty fast.

"Everything is changing fast, especially in European countries like France, Italy, and Spain. We will see, but for now, the priority for all riders is to keep morale high and to keep their families healthy. We need to show solidarity."

Chaves and his teammates have had to come to terms with pay cuts along with lockdowns. Several teams, not just Mitchelton Scott, have reduced their riders' salaries in recent weeks, and it is expected that most teams on the World Tour will be forced to do the same.

"I think it's perfectly normal in these circumstances," Chaves told Cycling News. [All sponsors are in the same position, factories are closing all over the world. People have lost their jobs and are not employed. As a team, we need to make decisions based on that and come together."

"Cycling is not the biggest thing in the world and this pandemic situation affects every corner of the world, every aspect. Every economy, every sport, every element is affected by this.