The Giro d'Italia will not happen has planned this May 9 to 31 due to an outbreak of the Covid-19 or Coronavirus in Italy and Europe. The race was due to start with three stages in Budapest.

"In response to the spread of the coronavirus the Hungarian government has declared a state of emergency. This prohibits the organization of mass events and makes it impossible to organize international events," read a press release.

"As a consequence, the Organizing Committee of the Giro d'Italia's Hungarian stages declared that the Giro’s start could not be held in Hungary at the originally scheduled time. All parties have agreed that they are determined to work together to enable the Giro d'Italia to depart from Hungary at a later time.

"RCS Sport, having taken note of the international and national situation, announces that the date of the 2020 Giro d’Italia is thereby postponed."

It's unclear how and when the Giro could find a new slot on the 2020 schedule, but organiser RCS Sport will try to do so after its country is freed of a lockdown to help stop the spread of Covid-19.

"The new date will be announced no earlier than April 3 when the provisions of the Decree of the President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic of March 4, 2020, will end," continued the press statement.

"And only after having consulted with the appropriate representatives of the Italian Government, local and territorial authorities and Italian and international sports institutions."