Classics star Wout Van Aert spoke about the impact of the Covid-19 coronavirus on his spring race schedule.

The Belgian rider was scheduled to compete in the Strade Bianche and Tirreno Adriatico, but organizer RCS Sport was forced to cancel both races after the infection spread in Italy. His Jumbo Visma team cancelled its entry in the Paris-Nice race, citing "insufficient assurances about the procedures to be followed" in the event of an outbreak in the Paris-Nice race.

Van Aert told VTM News that while it is not easy to be forced to miss a race, there are worse things to worry about with the virus than having it interfere with the race schedule. He added, however, that his rivals in the Paris-Nice classic will be a step ahead of him in terms of their preparation for the upcoming race.

"Of course, there are much worse things than that," he said. 'Still, races are often won mentally, and that's what preparation is all about. As a top athlete, having to make last-minute changes is no easy task. In that respect, the athletes competing in Paris-Nice this week have an advantage."

"Strade Bianche was my goal after being on the podium the last two years. Mike Tunissen, Amund Grondahl-Jansen, and I joined them. I was looking forward to it, but it cost me again."

The prognosis for March and April racing is looking worse and worse, with Italian races cancelled for a month, the Tour de Normandie being held on Wednesday mornings, and Paris-Nice being held "behind closed doors."

Last week, Thomas van den Spiegel, CEO of the Flanders Classic, said that "everything is going according to plan" (open in new tab), but the Volta a Catalunya could also be raced privately, and Jasper Steiven of Trek Segafredo said Tuesday that few in the peloton are confident that Paris-Nice will make it to the finish.

"Are they afraid of their country's top classics? I think a one-day race is different from a stage race where you sleep in a hotel."

"I think I'd rather be in the top classics in my country. Either way, I want to stay positive."

However, despite missing several races already this spring, Van Aert is pleased with the team's decision to withdraw from races in Italy (before they were cancelled) and France.

"I myself don't fully understand the risks. Of course I want to race, but I am happy that the team management is not blind to the dangers"

.

"We don't want to be stuck somewhere. A quarantine would really jeopardize our spring. So I respect the team's decision."

In 2020, Van Aert, who has only competed in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad so far, plans to race next at the GP Dunain and the Breden Koksijde Classic on March 19-20.