RCS Sport has announced that the 2020 edition of the Giro d’Italia has been postponed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The 103rd edition of the race – which has only ever been cancelled because of the two world wars – had been due to start in Budapest on 9 May 2020.
Due to a state of emergency being declared by the Hungarian government banning mass public events, as well as the developing situation in Italy, the race organisers have been forced to indefinitely postpone the event.
In a statement posted on its website, RCS Sport said a new date for the race would be announced no sooner than 3 April 2020, and only after consultation with the relevant public authorities and the UCI, the sport's governing body.
This announcement follows the cancellation of other WorldTour races such as Milan-San Remo, Strade Bianche and many of the spring classics, as well as industry events including Sea Otter.
Currently, no announcement has been made about the Giro Rosa (the women’s edition of the Italian grand tour), but that isn't due to start until 26 June.
Will the Tour de France be cancelled?
The 107th edition of the Tour de France is due to start on 27 June in Nice and finish 23 days later in Paris after 3,470 km of racing.
Earlier this week, speaking to Reuters, the President of the UCI David Lappartient said that cancelling the Giro d’Italia or the Tour de France would be a “disaster” for the sport.
But with the last stage of Paris-Nice and many other large sporting events in France being cancelled due to the evolving circumstances, it’s clear that cycling’s most important race is also at risk of being postponed or cancelled if the public health situation does not substantially improve.
