October 9/20 7:24 am - Paris-Roubaix Cancelled as COVID Cases Rise in France

Posted by Editoress on 10/9/20
 

ASO, organizer of the classic Paris-Roubaix one-day race, have announced that the race will be cancelled for 2020 due to the region of France where the race takes place being put under 'maximum alert' for a spike in COVID cases.

The event, one of the Monuments of road cycling, was to have taken place on October 25th for its 118th edition, and would have included the first ever edition of a women's race - Paris-Roubaix Femmes. This will be the first time the race has not taken place since 1942 (the only times it has not taken place are 1915-18 and 1940-42, during the two World Wars).

The statement from organizers:

At the request of the Préfet du Nord, Préfet des Hauts de France and following the Health Minister Olivier Véran's announcement yesterday, that placed the Lille Metropolitan area on maximum alert, the 118th edition of Paris-Roubaix (UCI WorldTour) and the 1st edition of Paris-Roubaix Femmes (UCI Women's WorldTour), originally scheduled to take place on the 25th October, will not be organised.

Paris-Roubaix, an incredibly popular event and one that is met with great enthusiasm every year, had already been postponed from its original 12th of April date following the containment measures put in place in spring to fight against the spread of COVID-19.

We would like to warmly thank the communities and event partners who supported us in this postponement as well as those who were, like us, delighted to see the Queen of the Classics even in the autumn.

We will see you on the cobblestones on the 11th April 2021