Most British pros set for Worlds long-list as confusion reigns

Swiss event cancellation puts plans back to square one

- Vern Pitt

British Cycling is drawing up a “substantially” expanded long-list for the road World Championships as uncertainty hangs over the event after the Swiss authorities banned it from being held there.

Last week Swiss authorities extended a ban on sports gatherings of more than 1,000 people that had been expected to be lifted at the end of August, well before the start of the Worlds on 20 September. Such events are now banned until 1 October in response to a rise in coronavirus cases in the country.

Grégory Devaud and Alexandre Debons, co-chairs of the event’s organising committee, said: “We are sad and disappointed.

“We have worked hard for almost two years to deliver a magnificent event on an extraordinary course.”

The UCI said it now intends to find an alternative European location to hold the Worlds, with a similar climbing profile to the scheduled race in Switzerland. But whether that will be possible remains to be seen. The hilly Italian region of Emilia Romagna is among those that have been linked with the event.