The Tour of the Gila became the latest race to announce its cancellation due to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic; the cancellation of the men's and women's races, which were scheduled to take place in late April, follows the suspension of the Volta a Catalunya, announced Thursday.

The race, won in 2019 by James Piccoli (now with Israel Startup Nation), will be the first race on the US Tour to fall victim to the coronavirus. Unlike RCS Sport, which is seeking to reschedule Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico, and Milan-San Remo, the organizers of the Tour of the Gila are not seeking a later date during the 2020 season.

"Silver City Mayor Ken Ladner and Silver City Mayor Alex Brown have provided critical leadership and guidance in making this difficult decision," race director Jack Brennan said via press release.

"The safety of our citizens and participants is always paramount, and we had to make this difficult decision.

The 2020 Tour of the Gila was scheduled to take place in New Mexico from April 29 to May 3; the Gila Monster Gran Fondo on October 12 will not be affected by the move; planning for the 2021 event will begin immediately, Brennan said.

"Special thanks to our sponsors, state, county, and city agencies, and our wonderful volunteers," Brennan said.

"We are disappointed that there will not be a race this year, but look forward to 2021. Plans are in the works and we will see you in Gila in 2021 and at the Gran Fondo on Saturday, October 10, 2020."

Brennan said plans for the 2020 event call for 11 international teams to participate in both races, including teams from France, Ecuador, Canada, Mexico, and New Zealand. Last year's race was mostly in North and Central America, although Oscar Sevilla (Medellín) finished second overall behind Piccoli.

Brody Chapman (Tibco-SVB) won the 2019 women's race ahead of then 22-year-old Chloe Diggart-Owen, who became time trial world champion in Yorkshire.

"There were going to be 19 professional teams in the men's race and 12 in the women's race." Brennan said. 'The amateur field looked big and strong.' Overall, the Tour of the Gila was staged to be the biggest and best race in 33 years.

News of the race cancellation was the latest blow to the American racing scene, which lost the Tour of California for both men and women after the race was suspended by organizers last October.

The UCI American Tour will be held on March 15 at the Gran Premio de la Patagonia; the Joe Martin stage race in North Carolina on April 2-5 will be the next American race in the U.S. Tour.

In Europe, the World Tour races Driedaagse De Panne, E3 BinckBank Classic, Gent-Wevelgem, and Dwars door Vlaanderen in Belgium will be held until April 3, when the Flemish regional government The sporting events may be cancelled due to a request by the Flanders regional government to cancel them.