Some racing on roads again this month under new cycling road map

[banners_ad id=55]

Some racing events on the road, club time trials initially, can resume before the end of June, according to Cycling Ireland’s updated road map for cycling re-emerging from lock-down.

Similarly, some club TT-based events are also set to be
allowed - also from June 29^th - in the BMX, track cycling and
off-road disciplines.

The national governing body had published an initial
detailed road map for cycling last month when the Government released its
five-phase plan for easing Covid19 lock-down restrictions in the Republic.

However, last week the Government said because the virus has
been suppressed in the community it was accelerating its plans to ease lock-down
and it was working towards a four-phase plan rather than five phases.

However, while plans are being worked on to devise four phases rather than five, at present the easing of restrictions is still based on five phases. And that means Cycling Ireland’s road map for cycling is, for now, still based on five phases.

Related News

Lara Gillespie attacks Dolomite stage as Giro hits high mountains

Video - Ireland's Meehan climbs with best on brutal Alpine terrain

When the decision was taken last week to accelerate the
re-opening of Ireland, the most obvious advantage for cyclists was the decision
to allow everyone in the country move anywhere in their home county for any
reason; including for cycling.

It means that from today cyclists can train anywhere in their home county and they can also train within a 20km radius of home, even if that 20km zone takes them out of their home county.

Furthermore, cyclists will be able to travel outside their
home region – to travel anywhere – from July 20^th, when Phase 4 starts.

While those few changes became clear last week, cyclists
were looking for more detailed plans for training, racing and sportives based
on the Government’s accelerated easing of restrictions.

Those details have now been set out in a revised road map
for cycling published today by Cycling Ireland. And while not all the answers
are available now, many of them are.

Some of the key items and changes in Cycling
Ireland’s updated road map are as follows:

• For road cycling: From June 29^th, when Phase 3 starts, Cycling Ireland now says “club only competition may be permitted for individual time trial events where strict social distancing and hygiene measures can be maintained around competition”. These club TTs must be based on online registration and according to protocols and the maximum number of riders permitted is not yet confirmed. This decision to allow club TTs from June 29^th is a change to the first road map as it envisaged some TTs being permitted from July 20^th.
• For road cycling: From July 20^th, when Phase 4 starts, “inter club competition may be permitted where strict social distancing and hygiene measures can be maintained around competition”. These inter club road races must be based on online registration and according to protocols and the maximum number of riders permitted is not yet confirmed. This is a significant change from the original road map, which made no mention of inter club road races resuming. The first time road racing, rather than TTs, were mentioned in the original road map was August 10^th, when Phase 5 starts.
• For road cycling: One key part of the road map that has not changed is the full return of open races and sportives. This is still planned for Phase 5, which begins on August 10^th. Under the initial Cycling Ireland road map, mention was made of the possibility cyclists may only be allowed to race or ride sportives in their home county or region when races and sportives began again. Under the new road map, that mention is gone and the “county only” restriction for racing and sportives appears to have been dropped as a possibility but more specific travel advice is awaited. One issue to note is that when the Government reveals its plan to condense the phases from five into four, it is possible the return to full racing and sportives might be brought forward, to some date before August 10th. However, it is also possible that may not happen and that August 10^th will remain the full return date. More information is awaited.
• For road cycling: Under the new plan, from today road cyclists are permitted to train in groups of up to 15 in the Republic and up to six in the North, but with social distancing required – which means all cyclists must stay at least two metres apart. For now, Cycling Ireland is waiting for guidance about whether than will change in Phase 3, from June 29^th, and in Phase 4, from July 20^th. But for now a full return to club training is set for Phase 5, from August 10^th.
• For track cycling: On the track, training is now permitted at tracks in the Republic, with social distancing and up to a maximum of 15 riders. That advice remains the same for Phase 3, starting on June 29^th, and Phase 4 starting on July 20^th; but with the maximum number of riders to be confirmed for both phases for group track training. Club track TTs will be permitted from June 29^th and inter club races will be permitted on the track from July 20^th. This looks like a decent step forward for track racing because under the initial road map there were no firm plans until August 10^th, when a full return to the track was envisaged. That full return to track racing is still set out for Phase 5, starting August 10^th, in the new road map. When the Government reveals its plan to condense the phases from five into four, it is possible the return to full track racing might be brought forward, to some date before August 10th. However, it is also possible that may not happen and that August 10^th will remain the full return date. For now, more information is awaited. As with road racing, the “county only” reference to track racing for its planned return after August 10^th is dropped, though specific travel advice is awaited in that regard.
• For off-road cycling: The advice is now the same as for road and track – the return being brought forward and now firm plans set put for TT-based races first, then inter club races and then a full return to competition – all with social distancing and following protocols. This represents good progress for the off-road scene because under the initial road map there were no firm plans in place until Phase 5, from August 10^th. But from June 29^th, TT-type events are allowed and from July 20^th inter club races are allowed; in both those phases - 3 and 4 - social distancing must be adhered to and maximum numbers are still to be confirmed. Those phases are followed by a full return to off-road events from Phase 5, starting August 10^th. But, as with the other codes, when the Government reworks the restrictions being eased into four phases rather than five, a return to full off-road activities may be brought forward. However, it is also possible that may not happen and that August 10^th will remain the full return date. The “county only” possibility for the return of off-road racing is also dropped, though specific travel advice is awaited.
• For BMX: Training is now permitted at tracks in the Republic, with social distancing and up to a maximum of 15 riders. That advice remains the same for Phase 3, starting on June 29^th, and Phase 4 starting on July 20^th; but with the maximum number of riders to be confirmed for both phases for group BMX track training. BMX club track TTs will be permitted from June 29^th and inter club BMX races will be permitted on the tracks from July 20^th – all with social distancing and following protocols. This looks like a decent step forward for BMX track racing because under the initial road map there were no firm plans until August 10^th, when a full return to BMX was envisaged. That full return to BMX track racing is still set out for Phase 5, starting August 10^th, in the new road map. When the Government reveals its plan to condense the phases from five into four, it is possible the return to full BMX track racing might be brought forward, to some date before August 10th. However, it is also possible that may not happen and that August 10^th will remain the full return date.  For now, more information is awaited. The “county only” reference for BMX track racing for its planned return after August 10^th is dropped and specific travel advice is awaited.

These are only some of the main points from the new road map. For the specific and detailed updated road map for cycling by Cycling Ireland, please follow this link.