Lucinda Brand is not expected to race anytime soon, despite ongoing discussions about schedule changes and relief for the second half of the Women's World Tour calendar. Instead, the Trek-Segafredo team leader is focused on taking the necessary health precautions in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

"My coach told me there are no races to focus on right now because there is no calendar," Brand told Cycling News. '[The coronavirus] needs to be stabilized around the world first before we athletes can continue doing what we're doing. We need to get everything under control first before we can continue racing."

Brand has joined Trek-Segafredo this year as team leader for the one-day and stage races, but so far, like many of his colleagues in the sport, he has been able to compete in two events held on the opening weekend, the Omloop Het Newsblad and Omloop van het Hegeland, are the only opportunities for him to compete.

Public health concerns over the rapid spread of the new coronavirus have led to the cancellation or postponement of all top-level men's and women's races in China, Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands between March and June.

In the Women's World Tour, the Tour of Chongming Island, Strade Bianche, Bebrisingrond van Drenthe, Trofeo Alfredo Binda, Dreiderghe Bruges de Panne, Ghent-Wevelgem, Tour of Flanders, Ardennes Classics and the Women's Tour.

The IOC then announced a postponement after weeks of doubt whether the Olympics would be held as scheduled from July 24 to August 9. Amid health risks surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, the Games will instead be held in 2021.

"When only Strade Bianche was cancelled, we were still thinking about the other races," said the organizer. It wasn't too close [to home], nor was it realistic. We thought [at the time] that we might be able to get an extra race in Belgium, but then the Belgian and Dutch races were cancelled.

"I was really shocked when the Dutch government said that everything in public was not allowed anymore. I was a little sad and didn't know what to do. But I quickly decided that the most important thing was to keep myself in shape, ride [as much as possible], and stay healthy."

"Everyone is in the same situation and everyone has to deal with the same problems at this point. I think that helps me as well. Certainly, it's really hard."

Many countries are blockaded in various ways, and at the moment the Netherlands still allows people to operate outside, while Belgium is discussing the possibility of a 50 km riding limit for all cyclists.

"In the Netherlands it is not so extreme and people are allowed to go outside," Brand said. 'In Holland it's not so extreme and you're allowed to go out there. I'm really lucky that I can still go outside, and it helps."

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With the gym closed, Brand, like many professional athletes, does her own strength training at home. She recently posted a video on Twitter of a strength training session in which she lifted an unopened bottle of Quaremont, a trophy she won during her playing days.

"The gym was closed and I needed weights, so I was trying to figure out what I could use and a bottle of Quaremont was full and heavy so I started using it. I won a race, but I don't remember at what point in my career I got it."

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The UCI continually provides updates on its website on event cancellations and postponements due to the new coronavirus. At the same time, the sport's governing body is working with race organizers to determine a date change for the postponed event.

"It's hard to say if or to what extent all are open to having a fall or winter program," Brand said.

"We also hope to re-start as normal in 2021. Of course, more and more races are requesting new (later) dates on the calendar, and it's getting tighter and tighter"

. [It is difficult for me and I don't think I can say that I will race at least early this summer. I don't think I will be able to race, at least not early this summer. But as long as there is a possibility of resuming racing, everyone will play a part and try to get as many races back on the calendar as possible. It won't be easy, and there are certainly some races I won't be able to enter this year."

In fact, the new coronavirus has forced the largest global sporting closure since World War II. There is no telling when the pandemic will be contained and when racing will resume.

"It's crazy and unrealistic to think we're in the history books. Of course, we all learned about the World Wars, and in years to come, the next generation will learn about this coronavirus that brought the world down," Brand said. [It's unrealistic, and it's a horrible story about so many people getting sick and dying.

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