Doubts surrounding the Paris-Roubaix administration have escalated this spring after a local politician strongly suggested that the races could not continue in the current COVID-19 pandemic in France.
The men’s race and the first edition of the women’s race were postponed last spring and then completely canceled due to the restrictions at the time of the rescheduled October dates. A similar scenario seems increasingly likely as the number of cases in France continues to increase and new closure measures are introduced.
Michel Lalande, head of the Hauts-de-France region, appeared on France Bleu radio station on Monday morning and was asked directly whether the race would take place on April 11.
“This is an excellent question, thank you for asking. I promise you creation if there is an answer, but you can guess what it will be,” he said cryptically.
When he was told he did not look optimistic, he said: “I see the sky a little less blue …”
Race organizer ASO did not comment during contact by Bicycle News.
The Hauts-de-France in northwestern France has been particularly hit by the high COVID-19 numbers in recent weeks and the whole region was placed under strict lock-in on Saturday and lasted a minimum of four weeks – the weekend after Paris- Roubaix.
Lalande showed a similar tone last October, despite the mayor of Roubaix confidently saying that the races could continue safely. ASO outlined forthcoming measures to limit road attendance following a successful execution of a rescheduled Tour de France, but local authorities eventually felt compelled to eliminate it.
The Roubaix velodrome, where the races end, can easily shut down the public, but it’s harder to keep fans away from the famous cobblestone sectors. Recent campaigns in Belgium, however, kept the numbers low during the opening Classics and the recent Paris-Nice move through an area in a gated section as the final shifts would move from central Nice to give locals time on the Promenade des Anglais by bringing. beachfront.
Lalande has been reminded that the other paved Classics in Belgium – which starts with Three-Day De Panne on Wednesday – will continue, despite a similar increase in the number of cases across the border.
“You have to explain the logic of this, with the safety precautions and everything else,” he said.