The 2021 season is almost upon us in cycling, especially for road cycling, and as the season calls closer, teams are getting ready and making the adjustments they need to be able to compete in the new season.
Cycling usually has a lot of moves in and around the teams during both the season and offseason, with teams making minor adjustments and then the big ones during the offseason in time for the new season. The 2020 season was very peculiar due to the coronavirus pandemic and team changes have been mostly under the hood but as the opportunity to reset and be competitive again rolls along with a fast-approaching new season, teams are making the major and final touches to their organizations. The National Road Championship in Paraguay is upcoming on the 12th of December and will be followed by a stop in Rwanda for the Championnat Nationaux Route on the 19th, as the 2021 action builds up thick and fast towards the first World Tour race of the season in January. With so much cycling on offer, Maine sports betting has you covered with all you need to get a sure and steady opportunity to make the right call, with odds, numbers, and more insights on the races.
The impact of the coronavirus is still very present and resounding on the cycling teams and could very much shape up the 2021 season in terms of competition, as the financial repercussions continue to be felt across the board. One of the biggest casualties so far is the Polish team CCC Team. Hard up on finding a new sponsor, the team has sold its WorldTour license to Belgian upstart Circus-Wanty Gobert, who will be making their first-ever appearance at the world tour level. The news comes as no major shock after the financial strain of the previous season, and could potentially be the first of many more similar storylines, as NTT Pro Cycling is also still actively in search of a sponsor in time for the new season.
Beyond the teams, the events will also be largely affected, as the Belgian Tour de Flanders is already announced to have no fans in 2021. Despite news of vaccines and how quickly they might go into circulation, organizers are taking no chances and are limiting every possible risk factor more than it is necessary to ensure the success of the events. The Belgian classics leading up to the tour itself include; Omloop Het Nieuwsbald, Ghent-Wevelgem, Dwars Door Vlaanderen, Scheldeprijs, and the Brabantse Pijl. The decision may just be precautionary as the organizers await the development of the year and patterns of the pandemic, but the early signs of the 2021 season show how much the pandemic still impacts and dictates the course of the competition. It would be quite a disappointment for the rookie Circus-Wanty Gobert, who may have had other hopes heading into their first-ever WorldTour participation.
