Team INEOS to temporarily withdraw from racing
Team INEOS have today taken the decision to withdraw temporarily from all racing until the Volta a Catalunya on March 23. This decision was made following yesterday’s tragic news about Nico Portal, as well as the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 Coronavirus.
INEOS will not be racing the following races:
– Strade Bianche
– Paris-Nice
– Tirreno-Adriatico
– Milan-San Remo
– Nokere Koerse
– Bredene Koksijde Classic
INEOS wants first and foremost to look after their team members and their family and friends, who are all grieving for a much loved teammate and whose funeral will be taking place in the coming days.
They also want to recognise their duty of healthcare to riders and staff in what is a very fast moving and challenging situation with Coronavirus. These are exceptional times for everyone – beyond just cycling.
Furthermore, teams like INEOS have wider responsibilities to local communities through which they would travel and the current burden on the public health authorities within them who are dealing with a challenging and unprecedented situation. The unique mobile nature of cycling with its travelling peloton of riders and staff across towns and regions makes this situation much more complex.
“This is a uniquely sad moment for everyone at the Team. We have lost someone we all loved very much and are all grieving for Nico. I would like to thank everyone for their messages following the tragic news yesterday. They have really meant a lot to us all as we try to come to terms with this terrible news. Nico meant the world to us as a Team and it is genuinely touching to know how much he also meant to everyone else across the sport.
“We are taking this decision to put a temporary pause on racing today because of this unique set of circumstances we are facing. It is right for the Team given what has happened but I also believe it is in the best interests of both cycling and the wider public.
“Cycling is a uniquely mobile sport. We have a duty of care both to our riders and staff but also to the people living in the areas where we race. We do not want to be in a position where our riders become potentially infected or quarantined on race as has already happened. Equally we are acutely aware that these are difficult times for all local health services and we do not want to put any additional pressure or burden whatsoever upon them when all their focus should rightly be on their own local population. Recent events at the UAE Tour have illustrated some of these challenges for cycling as a sport.
“This pause will give us the time to grieve for Nico in private, to support each other at what is a very sad moment and to treasure the memory of a great and much loved teammate and friend. We hope everyone will understand why this is so important to us.”
Sir Dave Brailsford