The Ghent-Wevelgem men's and women's races and the E3 Binckbank Classic have been canceled after Belgium's Flemish regional government banned all sporting events until April 3 in response to the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak. The only exception is professional soccer, which will remain closed to the public this weekend.

The Nokere Koerse men's and women's competitions, the Bredene Koksijde Classic, and the Driedaagse Brugge-De Panne men's and women's competitions have also been canceled due to this decree.

It was not initially clear whether the decree would also apply to professional races, but on Thursday, Thomas van den Sprengel, CEO of the Flanders Classic, wrote on Twitter: "We are fully aware of the need for this measure. Therefore, neither Ghent-Wevelgem nor Doir de Hlaanderen will take place."

"It is too early to discuss possible new dates for our races as it is unclear when the races will resume and the calendar may be changed for the Olympics. "

.

The Tour of Flanders, to be held on April 6, is also not yet affected by the announcement of the Flanders regional government, but the Flanders Classic will be held on Thursday, with sporting events taking place on the same weekend, Ghent-Wevelgem and Dwar door Hlaanderen, Scheldeprij-related events have been postponed.

Flanders Sports Minister Ben Waites met with Flanders sports organizations on Thursday to discuss the response to the coronavirus pandemic.

"In light of the further spread of the coronavirus and the latest insights and recommendations from medical experts, the sports community wants to clearly and actively assume its social responsibility," the statement reads, according to Sporza.

"It is one of sport's great strengths to affect so many people, but that strength becomes a vulnerability if the virus spreads in places where large populations gather. This was not an easy decision, but there is no other way."

In Belgium, 85 new cases of coronavirus infection were reported on Thursday, including 66 in Flanders alone, and there are now 399 confirmed cases.

On Thursday morning, Ghent-Wevelgem organizing committee member Hans de Clerck was hopeful that the race could continue despite tighter restrictions on sporting events in Belgium.

"We want to organize a race and we can organize a race with minimal public participation," he told Het Nieuwsblad. 'We could completely close down the square in Ypres, the starting point. We could completely close the square in Ypres, the starting point," he told Het Nieuwsblad. Only authorized people would be allowed in: athletes, team managers, and people who have a real connection to the race. The Kemmelberg could also be closed completely."

The privately organized E3 Binkbank Classic had this week postponed the construction of VIP tents at Oude Kwaremont and Hallerbeke in view of the growing possibility of cancellation.

The interruption of racing in Flanders throughout March affects both the men's and women's calendars, with the Nokelle Koers (March 18), the Breden Koksijde Classic (March 20), the Dreiderges Bruges des Pannees (March 25 and 26), the E3 Binkbank Classic (March 27), and Ghent-Wevelgem (March 29) will be cancelled.

Three Flanders Classic events, Dwars door Vlaanderen (April 1), Tour of Flanders (April 6), and Scheldeprijs (April 8), will remain on the calendar for the time being, but their status is tenuous.

The pandemic Covid-19 has already interrupted sporting activities in Italy. Milan-San Remo has been postponed for the first time since 1945, as have Tirreno-Adriatico, Strade Bianche, Trofeo Binda, and the Giro di Sicilia UCI President David Lapartiento has acknowledged that the Giro d'Italia, which opens on May 9, is in danger ...

Despite the spread of coronavirus in France and the withdrawal of seven WorldTour teams before the start, Paris-Nice went ahead this week despite restricting spectators at the start and finish of the stage, ASO cycling director Christian Prudhomme said Wednesday, insisted that the race would be completed despite the increasing number of infected people in France.