A lone rider or a small group of cyclists on an open road or trail are far away from the closed, indoor spaces that authorities are most concerned about. Under the guise of social distancing, cycling would appear to be the ideal physical activity in a lockdown. The cycling restrictions in Spain at first glance might seem illogical.
Some are hoping for an exception for professional riders since training is technically part of their livelihood, but as of Sunday, there were reports of police stopping cyclists throughout the country. Some teams have already sent riders to nearby Andorra, where severe restrictions are not yet in place, to at least allow athletes to ride. The quandary now facing teams is if their athletes living in Spain will be allowed to train. Paris-Nice managed to finish Saturday, after canceling its final stage Sunday, and could represent the final race for at least several weeks, if not longer. The European European racing calendar has been wiped out for the rest of March and into April, and Giro d’Italia officials postponed the start of the season’s first grand tour set in May.
The shutdown in Spain and Italy adds another complication for cycling’s pro calendar that’s already been thrown into disarray in the wake of the coronavirus hitting Europe. Spain is second to Italy in terms of coronavirus cases, and the death rate doubled to 288, with more than 7,750 people infected nationwide as of Sunday afternoon. Spain’s lockdown comes on the heels of similar measures in Italy that started a week ago. Fines starting at 100 euros and more will be handed out starting Monday. Public parks, museums and beaches are also closed. All schools, bars, restaurants and stores are shuttered. The only exceptions are for work, to buy food, to seek medical care, or to care for elderly or others in need of assistance. Photo: Col Collective.Īcross Spain on Sunday, police and the civil guard were telling motorists, pedestrians and cyclists that all unnecessary movement is banned. Tenerife is a popular training destination for both pros and amateurs. Tom Dumoulin and world champion Annemiek van Vleuten were among several pros on Teide last week, but managed to leave the island before Saturday night’s decree. Such places as Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Sierra Nevada are popular altitude training centers. And there are hundreds more Spanish professionals based throughout the country.
Several teams also have their service course in the area as well, and some have opened businesses. Nearly 100 international men and women pros live in Spain, especially around the Girona area, in Catalunya. The lockdown will affect one of cycling’s hotbeds in dramatic ways. Cyclists in other parts of Spain were being advised they will not be allowed to ride during the state of alarm. Sources told VeloNews that pros in Girona heading out for training rides Sunday morning were told to return home. Rolling report: Impact of coronavirus on pro racing That lockdown also includes the ban on riding bikes. Overnight, Spain’s prime minister imposed a two-week state of alarm that mandates the general public to stay inside their homes to try to contain the spread of coronavirus. The dozens of pro cyclists living and training in Spain woke up to a different reality Sunday morning. Get access to everything we publish when you