The Ulster 25 Mile TT Championships that had been due to take place this Sunday have been called off, though it is hoped they may be run in four weeks time.
The host club, Emyvale CC, had chosen a cross-border course, spanning the Republic and the North, and that factor has now caused very specific uncertainty for the event.
Emyvale said Cycling Ireland had advised it the championships could still go ahead – as any race can – despite new Covid19 restrictions being introduced on Tuesday night because those restrictions do not substantively impact cycling.
The new restrictions only relate to spectators not being allowed at races and introduce a cap of 15 riders in any training group. Racing and training are able to continue as normal once those minor changes are made, as is the case for all sports, all of which can proceed.
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However, Emyvale CC said half of its TT course was in the North and pointed out a new announcement regarding Covid19 was expected on Thursday in the North, which was causing uncertainty.
The club also believed it would be “morally” wrong to
bring a large number of people into the area for a race when people were trying
to take precautions to combat Covid19.
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Cycling Ulster issued a statement on behalf of the club,
thanking it for the work it had undertaken to organise the event and expressing
a hope the TT championships would still go ahead in about four weeks.
In its statement, Emyvale CC said it regretted having to
cancel – though hopefully only postpone – the championship race that had been
set for Sunday morning in Glaslough.
“In light of yesterday’s newly reinforced Government and
medical advice, we engaged with Cycling Ireland for further guidance,” Emyvale
CC said.
“After discussions yesterday and this morning, Cycling
Ireland’s position is that we are free to proceed subject to strict adherence
to social distancing and hygiene regulations.
“However, there is uncertainty in the North as Stormont
has announced that it will be considering further Covid19 measures (during) the
Thursday meeting of the Executive. As yet, we have no idea what those measures
will be, or how they would affect our ability to host the TT, as half of our
course is in the North.
“Furthermore, there have unfortunately been a number of
recent new Covid cases diagnosed in the local community around Glaslough and
with everyone trying their best to observe the stricter regulations, the
committee feels that morally it would send out the wrong message to bring up to
one hundred individuals from all over the country into the locality.”
However, it said all the work it had done in preparing for the race may still be put to good use as it was hopeful the championships could be run “should circumstances allow” in approximately four weeks.
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