Following yesterday’s enforced decision to cancel the La Drôme Classic in France due to snow, races in Belgium and Switzerland have been hit by the same problem. In the past few minutes the organisers of the Belgian semi-Classic Kuurne Brusssel Kuurne have taken the difficult decision to cancel the race, determining that conditions are too dangerous for the riders.
Those running the Swiss GP di Lugano made the same decision slightly earlier this morning, with similar conditions afflicting the race route there.
Like France and Switzerland, Belgium was hit by a drop in temperatures this weekend. Yesterday’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad was run off in very cold weather but was able to proceed.
Luca Paolini (Katusha) outsprinted Stijn Vandenbergh to take the victory, one minute and thirteen seconds ahead of Sven Vandousselaere (Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise) and Geraint Thomas (Sky Procycling).
Blanco Pro Cycling rider Sep Vanmarcke was one of those who had targeted the semi-Classics, but he stated this morning that he was hoping that today’s event wouldn’t go ahead. “On our way to Kuurne, hoping the organisation and police will make a responsible decision. It’s not safe for the riders! Sorry for #kbk,” he wrote on Twitter a short while ago.
The organisers have now came to the conclusion, meaning that today’s race will not now proceed.