Cycling Ireland has announced that club training groups and club racing can resume from next Monday, June 29th.
Furthermore, while the return of open racing is being delayed a little to give race promoters a chance to put plans in place, open races can resume from July 17th, three weeks away.
Some protocols and precautions will still be in place around group activities, including racing.
However, Stickybottle understands the protocols and restrictions do not relate to cyclists staying one or two metres apart when training together or racing.
In other words, the general social distancing requirement to stay one or two metres apart will not apply to group cycling activities when they are underway.
However, as with other sports such as rugby and GAA, while social distancing does not apply to cyclists during training or racing, a whole range of social distancing-based precautions and protocols will apply around races and group activities; in the period immediately before and after those activities.
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Cycling Ireland chief executive Matt McKerrow said the
national governing body was pleased to see a schedule for the return of club
activities and events.
“We’d like to say a resounding thank-you to the cycling
community members, volunteers, clubs and sponsors – thanks for your engagement
with our online activities, thanks for your patience and adherence with the
guidelines to date.
“And thank you to those who’ve contributed and will
contribute to the combined effort required ahead as club activities and events
resume.
"We’d also like to acknowledge the support and guidance from government, Sport Ireland and Sport NI which has been invaluable through this period."
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Racing and group training has been given the all clear to resume, under some conditions and with protocols in place, as a result of the Government accelerating the easing of lock-down across the country.
Racing and other group activities were suspended in mid March as Covid19 began to spread very significantly in Europe and the first cases of the virus were detected in Ireland.
Cycling Ireland has said of the resumption of racing and group activities:
"Club training and racing can now return from June 29th once strict protocols are adhered to. Guidelines developed by Cycling Ireland in conjunction with the Sport Expert Group and UCI are available to clubs wishing to organise group training rides and club competitions during Phase 3."
A Cycling Ireland booking system has been developed to assist clubs with meeting government’s contact tracing requirements.
Cycling Ireland added: "Open events will return from July 17th to allow sufficient time for event organisers to implement the necessary protocols and provide athletes with adequate time to prepare for competition.
"A revised calendar will be made available next week with online registration through the Cycling Ireland events system a requirement for contact tracing purposes. Guidance for event organisers can be viewed below and our events team are available to assist you through this process.
"While group training activities and events are returning, Covid-19 remains a highly contagious and debilitating virus, and in some cases a fatal one.
"Members, clubs, and event organisers should consider their own circumstances and assume personal responsibility when deciding to partake in group activities."
Cycling Ireland has set out a range of protocols and advice sheets in its release announcing the return of training and racing and they can be viewed by following this link.
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