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.
Nonetheless, wind gusts of between 65 and 90 kilometres per hour hit the course on Saturday evening and into Sunday leading to crowd boundaries, transportable bogs and refreshment tents being broken and strewn throughout the venue.
The wind circumstances had been predicted to peak at over 100 kilometres per hour, leading to riders agreeing with the choice to cancel the deliberate males’s and ladies’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 providers earlier than a choice was made to cancel the occasion.
Additionally they dominated out the potential 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 an announcement from the UCI.
The newest race content material, interviews, options, opinions and professional shopping for guides, direct to your inbox!
“Making certain the protection of our athletes, followers and all personnel stays our utmost precedence as we make this vital determination.”
Riders had been additionally counting the price after making the expensive journey to Sardinia and seeking to recoup a few of their outgoings in prize cash.
First prize for successful a spherical of the World Cup is €5,000 happening in steps, with eleventh place receiving €1,000, right down to fortieth who receives €400. Riders scoop €30,000 for successful the collection total, happening to €1,000 for twentieth total.
Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoal) took victory within the opening spherical of the collection and was final 12 months’s males’s total collection victor. The Belgian agreed with the cancellation, however mentioned financially the result left a ‘bitter style’.
“It’s kind of of a bitter apple to chew financially,” mentioned Iserbyt as racers shared their ideas with Sporza.
“I believe each rider has invested about 1,000 to 1,500 euros to be right here. That’s troublesome to get better.
“I weigh 55 kilograms and with my bike and my rims it could be very troublesome to remain upright right here. I believe I used to be going to have to carry on to my bike properly.”
Fellow Belgian Toon Aerts (Deschacht – Hens – FSP) is getting back from a two-year doping ban which he mentioned value him ‘some huge cash’.
After scooping €3,500 for ending runner-up throughout 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 way in which it’s. We should earn that again at one other time. Simply staying straight with the bike can be tremendous troublesome.
“It is a disgrace, as a result of it is a very good location right here. I used to be trying ahead to it. It was a pleasant lap. Anyway, we’ve got to simply accept this. I believe 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 possibility’
“I believe cancelling is the one proper possibility, regardless of how arduous it’s for the organisers. When you get right here, you recognize that racing is just not possible.”
“It is already troublesome to simply keep upright. Everybody has made an effort to get right here, additionally financially. I believe that at present solely security ought to play a job.”
The World Cup collection has now been diminished to 10 rounds and continues subsequent Sunday in Namur.
