WHEN Burley-in-Wharfedale cyclist Scott Thwaites signed for one of the biggest teams in the sport at the start of the year, the world seemed to be at his oyster.

The former Commonwealth Olympic Bronze medalist had finally got back to the top of his game after a serious incident in 2018.

However, with sport suspended for the foreseeable due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Alpecin-Fenix rider's progression has been halted.

Thwaites was aiming to make his mark in the classic events, while finishing higher in one of his favourite races, the Tour de Yorkshire.

Despite being disappointed about the prospect of not racing until late summer, he is still optimistic a successful season is on the horizon once it resumes.

Thwaites said:"The provisional calendar starts in August that is what the ECI have put out so we just have to see if that is realistic, closer to the time.

"It is still a long way away so there is no point getting too ahead of ourselves.

"All I can do is stay relaxed and maintain that level of fitness, then nearer to the time start to put in the hard weeks training to get into top shape ready for a busy part of the year with a lot of races in a short space of time.

"My role in the team is exactly what I was wanted so I was looking forward to getting going in the classics which is my speciality.

"I had built it up nicely through the first part of the year. I was going in the right direction and confident of giving it a shot this year.

"Myself and the team were looking forward to it (the Tour de Yorkshire), it is always a brilliant event which is well supported.

"Being a Yorkshire lad it is usually one of the biggest events on my calendar.

"It is a big shame and with the weather being what it has, it would have been a fantastic event.

"Hopefully it will continue in the future and we can have that enjoyment in another season."

The 30-year-old is not resting on his laurels though as he has been participating in the Zwift 'Tour for all'.

The five staged event, which ran May 4-8, raised money for the charity, Doctors Without Boarders.

Thwaites was pleased to be involved in some form of competitive racing and enjoyed the different challenge.

He added: "It was to raise money and awareness for the charity, and to support the teams and sponsors because it was being broadcast on Eurosport which was great.

"It was sort of an hour and a half each day racing.

"It was a lot different to the road so it took a few attempts to get used to how the system worked.

"It is always a good workout. I am sure everybody, with us being competitive racers, was giving it their all, even if it is just a virtual race.

"The Zwift platform is the closest you can get to that buzz and pushing yourself to the limit because you certainly have to work hard to try and get a result."