Cancellation is also a financial blow for riders: “But the most important thing is that no one goes home with an injury”

Michael Vanthourenhout could also see with his own eyes that cycling is impossible in Sardinia on Sunday when he arrived at the course. “I think cancellation is the only right option, no matter how difficult that is for the organisers.”

“I was in a village about 15 minutes from the course. It still looked quite doable there,” says Michael Vanthourenhout. “But once you get here, you know that racing is not feasible.”

“It is already difficult to just stay upright, with the bicycle and the support it becomes even more difficult.”

“I think cancellation is the only right option, no matter how difficult it is for the organization. Only one thing needs to happen and that’s the end of the day.”

Would it be an option to drive on Monday? “That’s possible, I was planning to stay here longer anyway. So for me it could be possible, but I think it would be a very difficult job to keep everyone here until tomorrow.”

According to Vanthourenhout, the consequences of a cancellation cannot be underestimated. “Everyone has made an effort to get here, including financially. Anyway: I think that only safety should play a role today.”

Toon Aerts: “It’s a shame, because it was a nice round”

“It’s really not about the bicycles here,” Toon Aerts also concluded. “Just staying straight with the bike would be super difficult.”

“It’s a shame, because it is a very nice location here. I was looking forward to it. It was a nice round. But anyway, we have to accept this. I think it is also for our own good.”

“What impact does this have? It is a shame for me personally, because I have a backlog to catch up on and I cannot work on that now. On the other hand, it is also important that no one goes home with an injury today.”

And the financial consequences? “Yes, it did cost some money. That’s just the way it is. We will have to earn that back at another time.”

I think each rider has invested about 1,000 to 1,500 euros to be here. That’s a bit of a sour apple to bite through.

That is, Iserby

Eli Iserbyt also speaks of a logical decision. “Especially here next to the sea, where there is a lot of wind. If you see that the poles are even blowing out of the ground, then it is quite extreme.”

For a lightweight like Iserbyt it would have been extra difficult. “I weigh 55 kilograms and with my bike and my rims it would be very difficult to stay straight here. I think I would have to hold my bike well,” Iserbyt laughs.

“The consequences of this cancellation? It is a bit of a sour apple to bite the bullet, also financially. I think that each rider has invested about 1,000 to 1,500 euros to be here. That is difficult to recover. But we are trying to stay positive and go for it again next week.”