The Italian island of Sardinia was ready to host the celebrated collection for the primary time and had created a coastal course which was uncovered to the weather.
Nevertheless, wind gusts of between 65 and 90 kilometres per hour hit the course on Saturday night time and into Sunday leading to crowd limitations, transportable bogs and refreshment tents being broken and strewn throughout the venue.
The wind circumstances have been predicted to peak at over 100 kilometres per hour, leading to riders agreeing with the choice to cancel the deliberate males’s and girls’s elite races.
An in a single day lightning strike additionally resulted in a makeshift constructing together with a bar, eating room and press amenities catching fireplace and going up in smoke.
On Sunday morning the native organising committee consulted with native authorities, Flanders Classics, the UCI and safety companies earlier than a choice was made to cancel the occasion.
Additionally they dominated out the opportunity of holding the occasions at a special time or day.
“The security of the riders, workers, volunteers and the general public couldn’t be assured,” learn a press release from the UCI.
The most recent race content material, interviews, options, critiques and skilled shopping for guides, direct to your inbox!
“Guaranteeing the security of our athletes, followers and all personnel stays our utmost precedence as we make this obligatory choice.”
Riders have been additionally counting the associated fee after making the pricey journey to Sardinia and trying to recoup a few of their outgoings in prize cash.
First prize for successful a spherical of the World Cup is €5,000 taking place in steps, with eleventh place receiving €1,000, right down to fortieth who receives €400. Riders scoop €30,000 for successful the collection total, taking place to €1,000 for twentieth total.
Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoal) took victory within the opening spherical of the collection and was final yr’s males’s total collection victor. The Belgian agreed with the cancellation, however stated financially the end result left a ‘bitter style’.
“It is a bit of a bitter apple to chew financially,” stated Iserbyt as racers shared their ideas with Sporza.
“I feel each rider has invested about 1,000 to 1,500 euros to be right here. That’s troublesome to recuperate.
“I weigh 55 kilograms and with my bike and my rims it could be very troublesome to remain upright right here. I feel I used to be going to have to carry on to my bike effectively.”
Fellow Belgian Toon Aerts (Deschacht – Hens – FSP) is coming back from a two-year doping ban which he stated value him ‘some huge cash’.
After scooping €3,500 for ending runner-up through the second spherical final weekend in Dublin he hoped for extra success in Italy.
“Sure, it did value some cash (to journey to Italy).
“That’s simply the best way it’s. We should earn that again at one other time. Simply staying straight with the bike could be tremendous troublesome.
“It is a disgrace, as a result of it is a very good location right here. I used to be wanting ahead to it. It was a pleasant lap. Anyway, now we have to just accept this. I feel it (cancelling) can also be for our personal good.”
Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoal) led the collection heading into the third spherical and agreed that cancelling the occasion was the ‘proper choice’
“I feel cancelling is the one proper choice, regardless of how onerous it’s for the organisers. When you get right here, you understand that racing shouldn’t be possible.”
“It is already troublesome to simply keep upright. Everybody has made an effort to get right here, additionally financially. I feel that as we speak solely security ought to play a job.”
The World Cup collection has now been lowered to 10 rounds and continues subsequent Sunday in Namur.
