Organisers eye October move for Ronde van Drenthe

Organisers of the Ronde van Drenthe have proposed moving the race from it's normal March dates to October 2021 to avoid it being cancelled for a second straight year.

The Ronde van Drenthe Source: Velo

The race, a fixture on the Women's WorldTour and a 1.1 ranked men's event, was scheduled to take place on March 15 this year but was called off due to the outbreak of coronavirus.

However, with COVID-19 cases surging in Europe, organisers are not confident of the 2021 event being able to take place if they are unable to delay the event to later in the year.

"We aren't seeing it [happening] in March," organiser Femmy van Issum said in an interview with Cyclingnews

"Together with the Drenthe Safety Region and Mayor Loohuis van Hoogeveen, we have submitted a request for the last weekend of October."

According to Van Issum, Ronde van Drenthe is not the only early season race to appeal to the UCI for a move to later in the cycling calendar to avoid having to postpone.

"There are many organizations of cycling events that are struggling with the virus, but also with all the extra measures. So we just have to wait and see," she said.

"If we want to organize something in October, we have to start organizing it in April. So we would like clarity as soon as possible."

The 2020 Ronde van Drenthe was cancelled one day before the race was due to go forward.

"Naturally, this caused us a lot of grief, but it also costs money," says Van Issum. 

"Part of all costs already incurred for 2020 have been paid to us in the form of corona support. Sponsors have also shown understanding and immediately pledged their contribution for 2021. Only together can we keep the Ronde van Drenthe going in these special times."