Cycling Ireland has published its first ‘road map’ detailing how cycling of all kinds will be impacted as Ireland gradually comes out of the restrictions put in place to combat Covid19.
The big news is that the national governing body is predicting some competitive events should be able to return in Phase 4, starting on July 20th, of the Government’s Covid19 plan for easing restrictions.
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“It is envisaged that
competitive events are likely to return in phase 4, provided social distancing guidelines
can be complied with,” Cycling Ireland has said in a statement today, Friday.
“We intend to share further
guidelines directly with clubs and event organisers in the coming weeks.”
How exactly racing could
begin again while adhering to social distancing is not clear.
However, is also not yet
clear what “social distancing guidelines” will mean in July or August. At
present the guidelines stipulate people must stay at least two metres away from
people who do not live in your household.
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The Irish Government late last month published a road map for all of aspects of society outlining how the restrictions will be eased in five phases to August.
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That plan published last month included how sport would be impacted as the phases progressed, a summary of which you can read right here.
On Friday afternoon Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced that
Phase 1 will start next Monday, May 18th, as expected.
And now Cycling Ireland has effectively set out how the
easing of restrictions under Phase 1 will impact on cycling – from road to BMX,
track, MTB, paracycling and commuting.
The easing of restrictions under the Government’s Phase
1, for all aspects of society, are very minimal. The big ticket items include
some industries and commercial sectors being able to return, at least partly
and while adhering to social distancing.
It means the impact of Phase 1 from Monday will be
minimal for cycling. But one easing of restrictions centres around people who
do not share a household being able to meet up in groups of four or less, while
adhering to social distancing.
Under its roadmap for cycling in Phase 1, Cycling Ireland
said groups of four cyclists can meet to ride together from Monday. But they
must practice social distancing, which means staying at least two metres away
from each other.
Furthermore, exercise is still restricted for everyone to
within 5km of your home in the Republic, though there are no such restrictions
in the North.
In short, you can meet three buddies to go cycling from
next Monday but you must only ride within 5km of home and you must stay two
metres apart from each other.
However, the fact Cycling Ireland believes some
competition will begin again in Phase 4 at least offers some light at the end
of the tunnel.
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