COVID 19 Update

Based on the Government’s latest advice and guidance on the developing situation around Coronavirus/COVID19, British Cycling has suspended all of its sanctioned, cycling activities, initially until April 30.

This includes (but is not limited to):

• Competitive events at all levels

• Non-competitive, registered events (eg sportives, reliability trials)

• Recreational rides (throughout our suite of programmes including HSBC UK Breeze, HSBC UK Guided Rides, HSBC UK Ride Social, Let’s Ride Pop-up)

• All educational courses or activities (eg coaching courses, Ride Leader courses, commissaire courses)

The decision has been taken based on Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s caution against unnecessary travel and contact with others, to take the necessary steps to protect the health and wellbeing of riders, officials, volunteers and spectators, and alleviate the risk of an additional burden on the emergency services at what is a hugely testing time.

We would strongly encourage all levels of the cycling community to join with British Cycling and the rest of the country in doing all we can to halt the spread of the virus in the midst of what is an unprecedented situation, however we recognise that this news will be disappointing, and potentially worrying, for some.

British Cycling chief executive Julie Harrington said: “This was not a decision taken lightly and it is one we have taken in close cooperation with our colleagues at Scottish Cycling and Welsh Cycling.

“We fully understand and appreciate the financial, social and community impact that this suspension could have, and we are working now to ensure that cycling is in the best possible health once the suspension can be lifted.

“As I’m sure everyone can appreciate, these are truly unprecedented circumstances, and while we will be doing all we can to retain a sense of normality and continuity, it may take some time to return to full capacity as an organisation and as a sport once this situation has been resolved.

“We will continue to update our members with more information, and will be doing everything within our power to support those who have contributed to the rich cycling culture that this country boasts.”

For the latest position from Scottish Cycling, please click here. For the latest position from Welsh Cycling, please click here.

What does this mean for…

Event organisers:

• Those organisers whose events were due to take place before April 30 will have their events manually cancelled by British Cycling via the Event Management System. Further information will be made available in due course

• British Cycling will work alongside these event organisers on the refund process for entered riders

• British Cycling will work alongside organisers to identify a way to progress the race calendar once Government advice permits racing to recommence

• Those organisers whose events are due to take place after April 30 are advised that British Cycling will issue further advice as and when Government guidance progresses. We appreciate that organisers will be making their own contingency plans, and may need to cancel events post-April 30 to provide certainty

Clubs:

• Any British Cycling-sanctioned activity (eg competitive event) which a club was planning to run prior to April 30 cannot now go ahead

• We would urge clubs to ensure that any level of organised activity they undertake is in line with Government advice. Please see links below for further guidance. We will be in communication with the relevant authorities to seek additional advice on your behalf

Ride Leaders/Breeze Champions

• Any British Cycling-sanctioned ride which was due to take place prior to April 30 cannot now go ahead, and will be cancelled by British Cycling

• We would urge Ride Leaders/Breeze Champions to ensure that any level of organised activity they choose to undertake away from British Cycling-sanctioned rides is in line with Government advice.  Please see links below for further guidance. We will be in communication with the relevant authorities to seek additional advice on your behalf

Participants:

• Any participant who had paid to enter an event before April 30 will be issued with a refund in due course. We are working alongside event organisers to ensure that this process is as efficient as possible

• Our guidance to professional riders and those on the World Class Programme is that they can continue to train, including group activity

Education courses:

• Any course scheduled to take place prior to April 30 will not now go ahead. British Cycling will arrange refunds where applicable in due course and will look to reschedule once Government advice permits activity to recommence

UCI BMX Supercross World Cup ticket buyers:

• Those who had purchased tickets for the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup event in Manchester over the weekend of April 18 and 19 will be issued with a full refund in due course. We are working alongside Ticketmaster to ensure that this process is as efficient as possible

Keeping active remains important and so long as you follow the relevant guidance with regards to social distancing and hygiene, you can still go out on your

 

Many enquiries are being received about the promotion of CTT events.

CTT’s current position is that we will continue to follow government guidelines.  Currently, the Board’s view is to keep events open and not to cancel or postpone events, although it is accepted that there may be circumstances where this is not possible.

Whereas competitors may consider themselves to be fit and healthy, consideration should be given to those who help out at the events.  All are volunteers although many may feel under pressure to “do their bit”.  Many may well be in the age categories at risk and in particular, those aged over 70.  It would appear that the older you are, the more at risk you will be.  Please consider  – many of the “older generation” are the stalwarts of our sport.  Please take care not to expose anyone to unnecessary risk.

In all cases, please be considerate.  The health and welfare of all concerned is by far the most important consideration.

Various suggestions have been volunteered as how to help mitigate potential risk, and you may wish to consider the following:

Marshals
Consider whether a marshal is absolutely necessary and whether a marshal could be substituted with additional signage.  If a marshal is necessary, marshals to make their own way to their designated point without reporting to the event HQ beforehand.  If this is done, it is recommended that the marshal reports by telephone to the event organiser to confirm that they are in place.

Event HQ
This could be used for use of the toilet facilities only.  Advise all competitors not to congregate unnecessarily at the event HQ.

Signing on
To take place outside.  Competitors to bring their own pen for this purpose or be provided with a disposable pen for use by that competitor only.  Alternatively, pens could be washed in soapy water (it is understood that antibacterial products do not work as effectively as soap, if indeed at all – strong soapy water is recommended).  Waterproof protective gloves should be used.

At the start
No pusher off.  Competitors to wait at the start with one foot on the ground and clip into the pedal once started.  In other words, a standing start.

Signing out
Competitors to use their own pen or the pen provided to them for signing on.  Please bear in mind that many competitors may not bring that pen with them so further disposable pens may be needed.

At the finish
Advise all competitors not to congregate around or to ask questions from the finish timekeeper or any other official at the finish.

Return of numbers 
Numbers should not be handled and should be put into a bin (or bins) containing soapy water which should be made available for this purpose.  Following the event, all numbers should be washed and appropriate measures taken to avoid personal contact before that is done (e.g. use of protective gloves).

Result board
This to be placed outside; alternatively, no result board although in this case results to be made available on the CTT website as soon as practicable after conclusion of the event.

Prize presentation
Consider not having one.  All competitors should be advised to make their way home promptly and not to congregate at the event HQ.

Wash your hands
The World Health Organisation advises that all should wash their hands properly to avoid spread of coronavirus.  WHO advise that one of the best and most basic protective measures that people can take against the coronavirus is to wash your hands frequently. On their website, WHO state: ‘Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.’

The “1.5 metre rule” 
Please remember the government advice about the “1.5 metre rule”.  Keep your distance from others.

Please be vigilant
Finally, please be vigilant.  Refrain from volunteering if you have any flu like symptoms.

The Board will continue to monitor the situation on a daily basis and will provide further updates here as and when appropriate.