Irish cycling's early season at risk from longer lock-downs in Republic & North | Sticky Bottle

*With a long lock-down now confirmed for the North and the Republic now looking certain to go the same way, the early season cycling races on both sides of the Border are now at risk*

The Irish road cycling season, which is due to begin on the first weekend in March, is now on a collision course with extended lock-downs in both Northern Ireland and the Republic.

At present the
Republic is in lockdown until January 31^st, but an extension of that
period now looks inevitable.

In the North the
authorities confirmed today, Thursday, that its lock-down was being extended by
another month.

Cycling Ireland
has prepared a submission for Government in the Republic about how the current
restrictions impact on cyclists.

It remained
unclear at the time of writing if some sporting events could resume, possibly
at some point in March, even if many other restrictions across daily life
remained in place.

However, given the continued high rates of infection both sides of the Border and the plans in both jurisdictions to extend most of the lockdown measures already in place, the start of the season is now at risk.

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It was intended the lockdown currently in place in the North would expire two weeks from now, though that has just been extended until at least March 5^th.

Under those restrictions, cycling races cannot take place. Non-essential retail is closed, as is the hospitality sector while people have been asked to work from home and most schools are closed until after the midterm break next month.

In the Republic
at present similar restrictions are in place, but some are even more strict
than in the North.

While bike races
are also not allowed in the Republic, exercise is also limited to within 5km of
a person’s home. Schools are closed, along with pubs, restaurants and
non-essential retail.

However, Taoiseach
Micheál Martin has now said hospitality may be closed until May or June,
explaining he was not ruling out such a move.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said the vast majority of restrictions will “be maintained well into February” in the Republic.

And it was now anticipated schools may not reopen until the middle of next month at the earliest, meaning at least two weeks after the officially planned date of February 1^st.