The men’s roster includes the likes of Greg Van Avermaet, Matteo Trentin and others. It is yet unclear whether the decision will affect the women’s CCC-Liv team. Bike sponsor Giant will continue to support the team. Ochowicz is now racing against the time to find a replacement for the 2021 WorldTour.
“In order to have the budget to race should the season start again, we have had to temporarily suspend all but a handful of staff and heavily reduce rider salaries,” manager Jim Ochowicz admitted. “As soon as racing can resume, we hope to be in a position to reinstate as many support staff as possible and re-evaluate our budget.”
CCC Team isn’t the only one feeling the economic effects of the pandemic. Astana, Lotto Soudal, Bahrain-McLaren and Mitchelton-Scott teams have all cut or deferred rider salaries.
“We know that three, four, five teams have more problems than other teams,” said UCI president David Lappartient. “We hope they all reach the end of the season.”
“In Kazakhstan, it is very difficult, just like the rest of the world. The oil and the currencies make it complicated,” Astana‘s boss Alexandre Vinokourov told Cyclism Actu. We have to get through this year. When there are no races, it will be difficult to start cycling again. Is my team at risk if there are no races this year? I think so, just like all other teams. The sponsors require visibility. I think that if there are no races this season, our team will disappear.”
The UCI already released a revised calendar for 2020. Do you think it will be enough to save Astana? And what about the others? Will all WorldTour teams make it to 2021? Let us know your opinion on social media.
