Cycling Ireland has apologised to some riders in the Irish team at the World Championships in Scotland last month for "significant deficiencies" in arrangements put in place for them and the level of support available from staff when problems emerged. However, it claimed it handled a Covid-19 outbreak within the squad in accordance with medical advice, despite concerns among some of the riders.
The national governing body claimed communication about the handling of the Covid-19 outbreak with some cyclists in the team was not what it should have been. It has also accepted there were serious shortcomings with some of the accommodation booked for the riders.
Cycling Ireland initially claimed in its reply to the complaints that it contacted the riders during the Worlds to offer them assistance while they were encountering their problems. However, this claim was at odds with one of the riders's accounts and it has since been removed from the national governing body's statement.
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The matter relates to an interview in The Sunday Independent last weekend with Irish paracyclist Allister MacSorley, who has been a wheelchair user since he was paralysed in a motorbike crash in 2018. He had previously been a cyclist and after he was paralysed he eventually returned to cycling as a handcyclist, winning a national title in June.
He was then selected for the Worlds last month, when he and team mate Declan Slevin finished 18th and 21st in their respective handcycling road races. However, while that Irish paracycling debut for MacSorley should have been a dream day, he told journalist Paul Kimmage of a range of issues he encountered while part of the Irish team.
He said before he embarked for Scotland he had to drive to Dublin to choose cycling clothing. He had previously asked for it to be sent to his home as he was traveling to the Worlds two days after arriving home from a training camp in the Algarve, under the guidance of former paralympic champion Mark Rohan.
MacSorley made the trip to Dublin - on the day after arriving home and the day before leaving for the Worlds - to pick up the clothing. He said the only items available that fit him were a "gilet and some gloves and socks". While he could "squeeze into the skinsuit if I cut the sleeves", the only jersey available was extra small, meaning he would have to borrow one.
Allister MacSorley (MH4) and Declan Slevin (MH3) were the sole Irish riders competing at the Para-Cycling Road World Championships today in Dumfries finishing 18th and 21st respectively in the road races ?#GlasgowScotland2023 pic.twitter.com/rWUpzMUjy0
— Cycling Ireland (@CyclingIreland) August 11, 2023
MacSorley added when he and Slevin made their way to their accommodation in Scotland, which was booked by Cycling Ireland, they found it was cottages in a remote area. He added the cottages were not wheelchair accessible.
"So we just looked at each other: ‘What the f**k are we going to do?’" he said of realising with Slevin they were in difficulty. He added they were the only athletes at the accommodation when they arrived and because nobody was around, and they were hungry, they found a nearby pub to get some food.
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MacSorley said he texted a Cycling Ireland official to inform him they could not stay at the accommodation as it was not wheelchair accessible but got no reply. When they were out at the pub having food they got a text from two of the track riders who had arrived at the accommodation, eventually returning there to join them.
However, it soon emerged one of those riders - who MacSorley said was coughing and wearing a mask -informed them he had tested positive for Covid-19 and had been sent by the Irish staff in an Uber to stay at the cottage accommodation. The other track rider had "muscular dystrophy and a compromised immune system".
MacSorley and Slevin then decided to leave and sourced their own accommodation; MacSorley for one night in a hotel and then at accommodation previously owned by a now deceased wheelchair user. He added he cried because of the treatment he endured, saying he thought about getting back on the boat and coming home.
Instead, he sent a message to a Cycling Ireland official complaining about the treatment and lack of staff support he and Slevin had received, adding he wanted to have no contact with anyone from the national governing body for the remainder of the Worlds.
In response to the complaints set out, Cycling Ireland said while its review into the Worlds was ongoing, it accepted "there were significant deficiencies in some of the arrangements and supports for the athletes" mentioned in the story.
"Cycling Ireland secured accommodation for the paracycling road team in Dumfries over five months prior to the event and on March 7th our staff enquired with the property owner regarding accessibility," the statement added of the cottages MacSorley and Slevin were sent to stay in, though it did not mention them by name in its statement.
"We were assured that people with limited mobility had previously used the property with no issues and Cycling Ireland therefore secured the accommodation in the belief it would be fully accessible. However, we acknowledge that it was not accessible for wheelchair users and that a more thorough check should have been carried out. We apologise to the athletes affected."
Cycling Ireland initially said in a first statement its staff had contacted the riders during the championships "to support them" and "offer assistance". However, that statement runs contrary to MacSorley's account and that section of Cycling Ireland's reply has since been removed.
On the issue of the Covid-19 outbreak, Cycling Ireland said: "The paracycling team was also affected by a Covid-19 outbreak in the days before the competition. Cycling Ireland followed all medical advice during this time and are satisfied that the necessary measures were taken and that the outbreak was effectively contained. However, we acknowledge that communication with athletes during this period should have been better in this regard.
"To date, our review suggests that a contributing factor to these issues was the limited staff and resources available to support the paracycling team. Cycling Ireland is committed to delivering a world class paracycling programme that is firmly integrated within our high performance unit and wider organisation. We will continue to strive to resource this programme better.
"We will also continue to review these issues and ensure feedback from affected athletes will contribute to our programme development. Cycling Ireland would like to apologise once again to those affected and to assure all our athletes that we will continue to endeavour to provide the best support possible."
