Team Ineos will not compete in any races until the Volta a Catalunya on March 23 as they mourn the death of a top official, the team announced last night.

Team Ineos will not compete in any races until the Volta a Catalunya on March 23, as announced by the team last night. Photo: Supplied
Nico Portal, the British-based team’s sports director, died suddenly of a heart attack on Tuesday at the age of 40.
Ineos said they also recognised that a very uncertain situation existed globally due to the spread of the coronavirus.
The races they will not be competing in are the Strade Bianche, Paris-Nice, Tirreno-Adriatico, Milan-San Remo, Nokere Koerse and the Bredene Koksijde Classic.
General manager Sir Dave Brailsford said it was a very sad moment for the team.
“We have lost someone we all loved very much and are all grieving for Nico.
“I would like to thank everyone for their messages following the tragic news yesterday. They have really meant a lot to us all as we try to come to terms with this terrible news.
“Nico meant the world to us as a team and it is genuinely touching to know how much he also meant to everyone else across the sport.”
He added that they were also taking this decision to put a temporary pause on racing because of the circumstances they were facing due to the virus.
“It is right for the team given what has happened, but I also believe it is in the best interests of both cycling and the wider public.
“Cycling is a uniquely mobile sport. We have a duty of care both to our riders and staff but also to the people living in the areas where we race.
“We do not want to be in a position where our riders become potentially infected or quarantined in a race as has already happened.
“This pause will give us the time to grieve for Nico in private, to support each other at what is a very sad moment and to treasure the memory of a great and much-loved teammate and friend.
“We hope everyone will understand why this is so important to us.”