Italian cycling race Tre Valli Varesine shortened due to heavy rain

Italian cycling race Tre Valli Varesine, which will feature Tadej Pogacar, has had its route cut by around 32 kilometres after heavy rains battered the north of the country.

In a statement, organisers said that "two short laps of the Varese city circuit (each around 15.9km) won't be carried out" due to the soaking conditions which have hit the race between Busto Arsizio and Varese in Lombardy.

Organisers added that the start of the race, which is now about 170km, had been postponed by 20 minutes to 12.20 local time (1020 GMT).

Pogacar is the big favourite for Tuesday's race, which is a warm-up for Il Lombardia on Saturday, the final "Monument" race of the road cycling season.

Slovenian cycling star Pogacar won the Tour of Emilia at the weekend in his first race after being crowned world champion for the first time last month.