According to Cyclingnews, Bahrain McLaren riders have been forced to take a 70% pay cut for three months. The riders were notified through a team briefing on April 1, and their paychecks for March, April, and May will all be affected.

The pay cuts are the result of the pandemic of the coronavirus Covid-19, which has caused a number of race postponements and cancellations in recent weeks. With little prospect for the start of the season, riders from several teams have been forced to cut back on weight.

Last week, Lotto Soudal riders were asked to take a 10% pay cut, and earlier this week Astana staff faced a 30% pay cut. However, the cuts made by Bahrain McLaren are the most drastic to date. Bahrain McLaren has a number of high-profile stars in its ranks, including Mark Cavendish, Mikkel Landa, and Wout Poels.

In an email seen by Cyclingnews, the riders were told that "as explained at the team briefing this morning, we are taking the necessary and urgent steps to ensure the survival of the team through the most difficult of circumstances." [Cyclingnews reached out to Bahrain McLaren for comment, but had not received a response at the time of publication.

The site also learned that in a second letter exchanged between team manager Rod Ellingworth and other staff and riders, it was announced that Ellingworth and senior management would forgo salary for the next three months.

"At this time," Ellingworth wrote, "both I and other senior management have decided to forego salaries for three months and will defer, rather than cut, a percentage of all rider and staff salaries for the same period.

"Like most businesses around the world, revenues during this period are subject to great uncertainty. Therefore, we are acting in the long-term best interest of our players and staff, ensuring that we have the means to operate at a competitive and viable level once this crisis has abated.

"While a temporary reduction in rider revenues is difficult, please understand the severity of the challenges we face as a team. The contribution and support of all riders and staff before, during, and after this pandemic is greatly appreciated."