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Cycling Ireland has set out a very specific road map for cycling over the four months during five “phases” planned by the Government for Ireland to ease the Covid19 lock-down restrictions.
The
national federation has explained how each form of cycling will be impacted by
the relaxation of restrictions as the five phases unfold.
It
means there is specific guidance from Cycling Ireland for road, track, BMX,
off-road, paracycling, leisure and commuter cycling in each of the five phases.
Stickybottle
is mainly a ‘road’ site so we’ve set out the advice for road cycling – solo,
small groups, large groups, racing, sportives and club rides/events – in great
detail in this piece.
We
offer guidance on the other forms of cycling at the bottom of this piece, though
the advice for all of them (with the exception of commuter cycling) is
practically identical to Cycling Ireland’s advice and forecasts for road
cycling.
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Have
a read down through this piece and hopefully most of your questions will be
answered.
In
a nutshell, solo cycling is permitted within a radius of 5km at present and
also for the duration of Phase 1 – from next Monday, May 18th, to June 7th.
That
5km radius then increases to ‘20km from home’ from June 8th until
July 19th. And from July 20th there will be no “KM from
home” restrictions at all.
It’s important to note these five phases, and the road cycling guidance for each of the five phases set out below, apply to the Republic of Ireland only. In the North, for example, there are no “KM from home” restrictions.
When
it comes to group riding and racing, August 10th is the key date.
That’s the start of Phase 5 and at present the plan is for club, group training,
sportive and racing activities to return to normal, or very close to normal,
from that date.
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It
is possible – nobody knows yet – that some of those activities may commence a
bit sooner. That’s something Cycling Ireland says repeatedly below it must wait
for guidance on.
But
for now, August 10th looks the date when a large degree of normality
will return for the cycling community in the Republic.
However, even from August 10th it’s not yet clear if cyclists will only be able to train in groups, race and ride sportives in their home county or region or whether we will all be able to travel nationally for those activities.
Cycling Ireland road map for road cycling: From May 18th to Autumn
Phase 1: May 18th to June 7th
Solo training can be done once riders are adhering to the ‘5km radius from home’ rule in the Republic though there is no travel radius restriction set within Northern Ireland. Technically speaking, small groups can train together once they are adhering to the 5km radius rule. Groups of up to four riders can cycle together by they must maintain social distance, which means staying two metres apart. That social distance rule means conventional group riding will not be possible during phase 1. There is no advice on “large group” cycling in phase 1, which means it doesn’t even arise for being permitted under any circumstances.
Phase 2: June 8th to June 28th
Solo
cycling is permitted once cyclists in the Republic are adhering to what will
from June 8th become a ‘20km radius from home’ rule. However, there are no ‘distance
from home’ rules in the North. When it comes to “small group” riding in phase 2,
Cycling Ireland says: “When further clarification is received from the UCI and government
on the ability to maintain social distancing, Cycling Ireland will revisit the potential
of running group-based activities and encouraging club activities to restart.”
While Cycling Ireland made no comment on how social distancing requirements may
change, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said the 2 metre social distancing measure
may be reduced. There is no advice on “large group” cycling in phase 2, which
means it doesn’t even arise for being permitted under any circumstances.
Phase 3: June 29th to July 19th
Solo cycling is permitted once cyclists in the Republic are adhering to what will remain a ‘20km radius from home’ rule. However, there are no ‘distance from home’ rules in the North. When it comes to “small group” riding in phase 3, Cycling Ireland’s statement at this time is identical to that which applies during phase 2. The federation says: “When further clarification is received from the UCI and government on the ability to maintain social distancing, Cycling Ireland will revisit the potential of running group-based activities and encouraging club activities to restart.” There is no advice on “large group” cycling in phase 3, which means it doesn’t even arise for being permitted under any circumstances.
Phase 4: July 20th to August 9th
When it comes to solo riding in phase 4, from July 20th, there are no “KM from home” restrictions. Cycling Ireland says: “Competition may be permitted for individual time trial on road where strict social distancing and hygiene measures can be maintained around competition.” This will relate to “county level only”, but that advice in relation to county level is yet to be confirmed. When it comes to “small group” cycling on the road, for phase 4 Cycling Ireland adapts the same holding position as in phases 2 and 3. It says of “small group” cycling on the road in phase 4: “When further clarification is received from the UCI and government on the ability to maintain social distancing, Cycling Ireland will revisit the potential of running group-based activities and encouraging club activities to restart.” When it comes to “large group” cycling in phase 4, Cycling Ireland says: “When further clarification is received from the UCI and government on ability to maintain social distancing, Cycling Ireland will revisit the potential of running group based activities and encouraging club activities to restart.” That is the first time “large group” cycling is seen as possible – from July 20th – though that is not yet confirmed.
Phase 5: From August 10th
When it comes to solo cycling there is not “KM from home” restriction in this final phase of five. Cycling Ireland says that in phase 5, from August 10th, there can be a full return to training and competition, but at county level only. However, the advice in relation to county level is to be confirmed. Likewise, when it comes to “small group” cycling its says there can be a full return to training and competition, but at county level only – but the advice in relation to county level is to be confirmed. On the issue of “large group” cycling, the news appears to be good, as Cycling Ireland says there can be a full return to training and competition, but at county level only – though the advice in relation to county level is to be confirmed. Club training spins and approved leisure events (sportives) will also be permitted but, again, on a “county only” basis, though that is yet to be confirmed. The references to “county level only” in Phase 5 relate to cycling possibly resuming on a local or regional level before resuming nationally. That means cycling activity, including racing and group riding and sportives, may be limited to a home county or home region for each cyclist before they would be permitted to venture anywhere in the country they wished. This approach is currently in place in Australia. However, to be absolutely clear; Cycling Ireland’s guidance relating to “county only” is provisional and it very much still has to be confirmed with the passage of time. From August 10th cyclists may only be permitted to group rider, race or take part in sportives on a home county or home region basis or they may be allowed to travel anywhere in the country. That is yet to be decided by the Government and it will be dictated by public health advice as the phases progress.
Non-road activities
As we said at the outset, Cycling Ireland has also set out a plan for track cycling, BMX, paracycling, off-road and leisure cycling in each of the five phases.
The majority of that material is identical to the plan for road cycling, above. However, if you want to see the specific road map for any non-road discipline, you can follow this link.
When to comes to commuter cycling, the advice from Cycling Ireland is the same for all five phases, stating: "Cycling Ireland members are encouraged to cycle to and from work, for businesses set out within this phase and for utility purposes. There is no distance limitation in place."
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