Last week, Matteo Trentin (CCC Team) was in Spain for training camp, hoping in vain that the Spring Classic would still take place. But within just a few days, a coronavirus pandemic (open in new tab) spread throughout Europe, borders were closed, and countries were sealed off.

Unsurprisingly, bicycle races were cancelled and large gatherings and sporting events were cancelled by governments and local authorities. [To be honest, it's really chaotic. Frankly, it's really chaotic. Now people are realizing that this is not just a problem for one group of people, but for everyone," Trencin told Cycling News. [In order to solve this problem, we need to increase the cohesion of the whole of Europe. This is one of the biggest problems in history. You may not really believe it until this virus gets closer, but as an Italian, I live close to my friends and family. The problem is that it is a disease that can cause a lot of problems."

With the spring classics likely to be canceled or postponed and the Giro d'Italia scrambling for alternative dates, Trentin advises following the measures being taken in each country and city.

Most countries in the European bloc are urging their citizens not to participate in large gatherings, and in Italy and Spain, further restrictions have been placed on professional athletes, such as outdoor training being allowed in Italy but not in Spain due to insurance concerns in

In Italy, the Italian government has called on professional athletes not to participate in outdoor training.

Trentin, who is vice president of the Italian Riders Association, called on riders at all levels to respect the measures taken by their governments. 'I know this is hard to understand in the western world, but I think everyone needs to accept it. This is for everyone's benefit. [For example, in Belgium and the Netherlands, there were not so many cases before, but now one day everything seems to be coming closer to families and loved ones. Then you start thinking about protecting yourself and your family. It's a really difficult situation, but it goes beyond sport and beyond cycling."

With public health now a priority, the world of professional cycling has taken a back seat and narrowed its perspective to larger issues. The timescale of the revised calendar, which is only vaguely predictable, ensures that there will be little racing activity around the world in the coming weeks and months.

"It's really difficult," Trentin admitted. [As a rider and a fan of cycling, I always hope that when I wake up tomorrow, I will think this was all a joke. You just have to get through one day at a time and ride it out so that the virus doesn't spread too far; no one could have predicted this two weeks ago, so it's impossible to predict what will happen two months from now."