The organisers of Rás Tailteann have taken the initiative in their hands and decided now to postpone the race due to the Covid19 crisis.
At present all
sporting events, including road racing, are suspended in the Republic until
April 19th.
However, that
suspension is expected to be extended and the UCI has also decided that no
races sanctioned by it should take place before June 1st.
Rás Tailteann was
not due to start until June 10th, but the organisers have said because of the
uncertainty at present they have decided to make the call now to suspend the
event.
While that is
disappointing it is understandable and not unexpected. The good news is that Cáirde
Rás Tailteann is committed to finding a
date later in the season to hold the race.
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The fact the
event is shorter this year, at five stages rather that eight, and is not on the
UCI calendar will make the event more flexible in switching dates and fixing on
a new schedule.
Even if the worst
of the Covid19 crisis was to pass relatively soon in Ireland, inward tourism
into the Republic is likely to be depressed this year. That is another factor
that can suit Rás Tailteann as hotel beds should be easier than usual to find
this summer.
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Race director
Eugene Moriarty said while postponing the race, which was not held in 2019, was
a difficult decision, it had been taken after considering all of the public
health and related sporting advice from the HSE, Sport Ireland, Cycling
Ireland, the Irish government and other stakeholders.
He add considering
the nature of the public health emergency and the progressive evolving nature of the Covid19 pandemic
it was best to make a decision now and not wait.
“Cáirde Rás Tailteann has decided that it is in the best
interests of everyone associated with the event and the wider public to
temporarily postpone the 2020 event from its planned start date on June 10th next,” he said.
“The decision to postpone has not been taken lightly. But when we consider the
on-going restrictions that are in place, the current workload of An Garda Síochána, county councils and the health service,
all of whom play integral roles in an event of this stature, we feel it is only
appropriate that planning for the 2020 Rás does not add to the immediate burden
faced by our critical frontline public servants.”
Moriarty’s group
is now looking towards a period after July to hold the race. Route designer Ger
Campbell said while the date was changing, the plans for the 2020 edition remained
intact.
“We do not
foresee any changes to the route that has been published, so it will be a
matter of managing any changes that may be necessary in relation to a change of dates,” he said.
“This is
of course contingent on any opportunity that may become available to put the
Rás safely back on the roads of Ireland later in 2020, if the prevailing
circumstances would allow and most importantly that it is safe to do so.”
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