"We're going to try to find the best solution without extending the season beyond what is reasonable," Lappartient said in an address on his Facebook page.
"We will try to protect what makes the richness of our sport of course in road cycling, the grand tours, the monuments for both men and women."
What this means for other races and their viability beyond 2020 is uncertain. But it could lead to the cancellation this season of a number of semi-classics and stage races.
Although Lappartient did not mention the UCI road world championships specifically, but as a major source of revenue for cycling's governing body, it is safe to assume it is sacrosanct.
The UCI boss also said he is working with teams, organisers and athletes to rebuild a calendar and a date "on which the season can resume, a date that we do not know at the moment given the measures in place."
"But our priority for the moment is the protection of the population, the respect of the rules, to avoid the crisis spreading further.”
To date, the coronavirus has taken the lives of more than 33,000 people globally.
This could have been my year: Luke Durbridge
Aussie cyclist Luke Durbridge told the he was 'devastated' about race cancellations believing 'this could have been my year."
But the Girona based cyclist in full lockdown for around two weeks soon gave up that attitude.
"I then started to realise this is actually a lot bigger than cycling and my career."
But the anxiety around his contract is still in the back of his mind.
"Everyone who is up for contracts, or even in contracts, would be nervous about how the economy is going to take the hit because we are based off sponsorship.
"You are nervous about what you're doing next year, but I think 90 per cent of the peloton is."
