The Associazione Corridori Ciclisti Professionisti Italiani (Italian Association of Professional Athletes) has requested the cancellation of the Paris-Nice race to protect athletes and team staff and reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus through contact with the public at the French race. In order to do so, they requested the cancellation of the Paris-Nice race.

"We hope that after today's stage, Paris-Nice will be cancelled. We are working to ensure that athletes and team staff who are away from their families can return home as soon as possible," said ACCPI President Christian Salvato.

"Italy has been on lockdown for several days and we are very concerned about the men and women racing internationally. Cycling is an international sport that involves people from all over the world. At this difficult moment in history, the situation must be brought under control.

On Wednesday, in Paris-Nice, Christian Prudhomme insisted that the race would continue and that it would arrive in Nice over the weekend. However, French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to give a nationally televised speech on Thursday evening and may introduce new measures to suspend all sports and public gatherings.

The Covid-19 pandemic has already led to the suspension of sports activities in Italy and the quarantine of the entire country earlier this week. Milan-San Remo was postponed for the first time since 1945, as were Tirreno-Adriatico, Strade Bianche, Trofeo Binda, and Giro di Sicilia UCI President David Lapartiento acknowledged that the Giro d'Italia, which opens on May 9, is in jeopardy ...the Giro d'Italia is in jeopardy...

In Belgium, the Ghent-Wevelgem men's and women's races and the E3 Binckbank Classic are facing cancellation after the Flemish government banned all sporting events until March 31. Races in the Netherlands and Spain will also be cancelled until at least the end of the month, including the World Tour race Volta a Catalunya.

"Geographical borders cannot stop the virus. In order to fight this virus, all races must be suspended until new information confirms that it is safe to race," Salvato said.

." We are part of the CPA Riders Association and have asked Gianni Buño to ask the UCI to suspend all racing to protect the riders and those they may come in contact with during the race and during travel.