Olympic champion Anna van der Breggen expressed relief after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and IOC President Thomas Bach agreed to postpone the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games until 2021.

The IOC made the announcement Tuesday after weeks of doubt over whether the Games, scheduled for July 24-August 9, would take place as planned amid health concerns and risks surrounding the coronavirus pandemic

. So it is with some relief that this matter was clarified. I don't think it was a bolt out of the blue for anyone," Van der Breggen said in an interview with the Dutch news media De Stentor (opens in new tab). [How can we let this sporting event continue when the world is battling a virus, when people are losing their livelihoods and their families' lives are in danger? [On the other hand, I have been to Japan several times and know how important this event is to them. And that such a decision cannot be made lightly.

Van der Breggen won gold in the road race and bronze in the time trial at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Since then, she has achieved numerous world road race titles, five consecutive Flèche Wallonne titles, two consecutive Liège-Bastogne-Liège titles, and her second Giro Rosa.

She would have been one of the leading contenders to start the games again, but she believes the event will do equally well next summer.

She wrote on Instagram, "No Olympics this year. As athletes, we worked and looked forward to this, so it's tricky, but we have more important, bigger goals." Nothing is ever the same, but we can make it beautiful again"

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She further told de Stenter that she would rather compete in the Olympics if not for the health concerns facing the world. If I could have chosen, I would have competed in next summer's Olympics in a healthy world."

Public health concerns over the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19) led to the cancellation or postponement of many top-level one-day races held from March through June. These included events in China, Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands: the Tour of Chongmin Island, Strade Bianche, Bebrising Ronde van Drenthe, Trofeo Alfredo Binda, Drydags Brugge des Pannees, Gent-Wevelgem, Tour of Flanders, Ardennes Classic, and the Women's Tour.

She said that the postponement of the Olympic Games is also important to allow a fair selection process for athletes and to give athletes the opportunity to properly prepare for the Games during a typical race and training program. Currently, no races are being held and many athletes are following self-imposed recommendations and training indoors at home in order to stop the spread of the virus.

She stated that the postponement of the Olympic Games is also important to allow for a fair selection process for athletes and to give athletes the opportunity to properly prepare for the Games during their typical race and training program. No races are currently being held, and many athletes are following self-imposed recommendations and training indoors at home in order to contain the spread of the virus.

"After all, you live from goal to goal," Van der Breggen said. 'No matter what, fair selection could not be applied in this way. No one could show themselves in the spring. We have hope that we can race again and make the fall another goal. It's still a long way off, but with the course of illness in China, it may still be possible."