Annemiek van Fluten expressed disappointment that last year's winner, Strade Bianche, has been cancelled due to a coronavirus outbreak in Italy and will not be able to compete in the race, which will be held on Saturday.

However, the reigning world champion said she was grateful that Mitchelton Scott pulled her and her team out of the race and assured her that her health was her top priority.

"There is no Strade Bianche for our team and as of now there is no race until after March 22. Please read the statement for more details (team press release below)," Van Vleuten posted on Twitter.

"Very sad as I was really looking forward to the race. It's a difficult decision, but thanks to Mitchelton Scott for putting everyone's health first."

Mitchelton-Scott announced Wednesday that both the men's and women's teams will withdraw immediately from all races until at least March 22 in light of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak in Europe.

This decision means that the men's team will miss races such as Paris-Nice, Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico, and Milan-San Remo. The women's team will miss three Women's World Tour races: Strade Bianche (March 7), Ronde van Drenthe (March 15), Trofeo Binda (March 22), and Danilis Nokele Coase (March 18).

Shortly after Mitchelton Scott's announcement, the Italian government called for the cancellation of all sports and public events for a month, until April 3, in order to control the spread of the coronavirus Covid-19.

Van Vleuten had already started the season by winning the Omloop Het Niusblad last weekend. She had planned to compete in several one-day races this spring, but her next race was Strade Bianche, where she was looking to defend her title.

She is then scheduled to race the Douard de Hländeren on April 1 and the Tour of Flanders on April 5. After that, she will focus on the Ardennes Classics: the Amstel Gold Race on April 19, Flèche Wallonne on April 22, and Liege-Bastogne-Liege on April 26 (which she won last year).