[Closed] Cycle events post lock-down

I can’t see things returning to “normal” until next year at the earliest. Surely, even once the current rules are relaxed, long distance travel and large gatherings will continue to be restricted?

When lockdown is relaxed, it will likely be done in a phased way and (as above) large gatherings may be restricted longer than individual movement.

The Tour Of Flanders sportive has been postponed, supposedly until September. However I can't image the Belgians being too keen on 16000 riders from all over Europe and further afield descending upon Oudenaarde in 5 months' time. I have a feeling it will be cancelled.

Had a couple of events cancel already. Got the Jennride coming up (relatively few people, in July) and RideLondon (10s of thousands in August).

MIGHT be possible to maintain some social distancing on the JR. Definitely not during RL! As above, would you WANT to put yourself in that position, even if it were allowed? Probably not, pre-vaccine!!

I wouldn't hold out much hope for any cycle events this year. Geraint Thomas was on the Today program this morning, he said there was talk of doing the TdF in late August, perhaps with no spectators. With 200 odd competitors and thousands of support staff, I can't see how even that will occur.

Having said that, I would expect a phased approach as tests and vaccines become available, but rightly recreational and sports events will be quite far down the list for prioritising any tests and vaccines, so they'll be the last thing to come back.

I really hope we will get back to riding our bikes together soon, but in the meantime I like riding my bike and I'm not planning any events, just rides at times to hopefully avoid the hordes.

Another one who thinks there won't be any large events this year. Just can't see how the spread could be contained enough to allow anything to happen without risking another peak. Annoyed as I was really looking forward to the Malverns Classic and doing a few events in the autumn.

Loads of talk of road race in September and later. Not sure how that would go ahead in the NE region. There are a limited number of organisers and racers so trying to cram road, TT, Hills, and CX into the same period just won't work.

I also agree with the above. Individual freedoms will be relaxed but I can still see there being limits to mass public gatherings and a reluctance on many peoples part until there is something to give them confidence (vaccine, treatment etc.).

As a household that almost entirely relies on events for income.

The situation with events fits into the category of total cluster*

(Culinary Events being the main one, that’s proper ***)

Currently booked onto Grinduro Wales in July, which is still going ahead according to the website... Whether it happens or not remains to be seen. To be honest, I'm expecting (hoping) it will be cancelled.

There's not enough certainty to plan for anything at the moment.

I'd rather see the entire year written off for events right now rather than all this talk of we'll try this or aim for that or hope for the other.

There's no guarantee things will be back to normal by then anyway.
No-one is going to want to enter anything now for September time - high risk that it won't run anyway or that travel to/from it will be difficult or they've been furloughed and have no money to afford it.

Until there's some sort of, ideally Europe-wide, exit strategy, saying things like we'll run the Tour in August is pipedream stuff.

I'm afraid I'm in the "not likely this year" camp. Audax events seem to be being put back 12 months

I wouldn’t be surprised if events that are allowed to go ahead have to have severely lowered numbers.

Feel for the organisers of events, but probably in everybody's best interests to basically take a year off, hard the organisers of Ard rock and Malverns classic who had to cancel last years events because of the weather

I’d rather see the entire year written off for events right now

Ditto.

People chattering about when races could be re-scheduled etc seems a bit pathetic IMO.

Don't even feel like planning rides for when the lockdown is relaxed.

Annoyingly I am in great shape after being a bit lazy over winter. Right now would be ideal for an event or two. I'll probably have got bored with riding by the time events start up again.

Another problem is the possible lack of medical support at events post lockdown. It wouldn't be possible to run some events without it.

Sort of related, it depends a lot on what a "return to normal" looks like.

Will it be a phased and gradual opening of more shops/bars/restaurants then a return to allowing smaller sporting events then bigger events like airshows, football matches and so on?

I'm genuinely curious what people are going to do first. End of lockdown, will it be a big rush to the nearest pub or will everyone jump in their cars and it'll be absolute ****ing chaos on the roads for a fortnight?

There's going to be a lot of roadies turn up to races in tip top fitness from months of Zwift work but with zero bike handling skills after not riding in the real world or in groups for ages! 😂

I still have a week's touring planned in September, but relying on public transport and hotels.

Doesn't seem completely out of the question, will just need to follow guidelines and my conscience regarding possible strain on NHS etc. if the worst happened.

Have dragged out the bikepacking gear just in case hotels aren't opening.

Wonder what the casualty rate is at something like ard rock? I think there will be a new normal, social distancing might become a bit of a habit and I for one won't be attending any large gatherings, looking forward to a local ride and a cold beer somewhere

no one really has a clue what will happen but as things stand with postphoned and rescheduled races etc. i am away racing every weekend in august and september apart from one if they all go ahead. i really hope they do, don't want to go through the year without racing.

StuE dont think the casualty rate for ard rock is that high considering the amount of people taking part and that a lot of them aren't very good on that sort of terrain.

Good question about risk management expectations as lockdown is relaxed.

There may still be pressure not to get injured, which may translate into pressure for bike events not to take place?

There may still be pressure not to get injured, which may translate into pressure for bike events not to take place?

I'd be interested to see what accident and injury rates are like at the moment now that drunken town centre fights aren't happening, most exercise is banned (so none of the usual school sports day or 5-a-side football or amateur rugby etc injuries), I'd imagine RTCs are well down too.

And then come out of lockdown and watch it skyrocket as everyone jumps in the car and drives off to the hills for a walk or goes into town for a massive drinking session...

In the face of that, I doubt a bike race will have any discernable impact. Everyone remembers the big crahses but I've done countless races where everyone has stayed upright, no issues at all, we all go home happy and safe.

Germany are to begin relaxing their lockdown, some shops can reopen but not bars,cafes etc,large public gatherings are banned until at least the 31st of August, we are probably at least a couple of weeks behind them and I would think our government will probably do something similar, unfortunately that would probably mean end of September before they might consider allowing public gatherings

SSUK in September hasn't been canceled....... yet

Who knows, although given the lockdown seems to be keeping everyone on the turbo trainers so Id be even further back than normal!

And being singlespeeds its not like they'd struggle in mid winter mud.

large public gatherings are banned until

depends on what they class as large public gatherings, an enduro with 300/400 riders spread over a forest might not if they can do something about the signing on process.

no ones going to know for a while yet anyway, but i'm just thinking positive at the moment in the hope something does manage to go ahead this year.

they could do a "come at your own risk approach". I would be up for that - personally, I have had it already so I'm keen to get out ASAP. We cant all stay in cotton wool forever. For the avg person under 60 there is probably more chance of dying by being hit by a bus while riding than from Corona but we all still ride on the road....

Morzine are saying July 4th (at the moment) But, I really can't see it what with the Germans current position Morzine

There would still have to be some sort of social distancing which would seriously restrict entry numbers,probably workable for some events I guess but it would very difficult for larger ones

I am increasingly of the mind that we won't race this year. Today they were saying we'll need social distancing till we have a vaccine; bike racing doesn't fit in with social distancing. Not sure I'd want to be trying to gasp as much air as deep into my longs as possible while rubbing shoulders with a bunch of strangers doing the same thing.

I wonder if BC will refund race licences if no racing takes place this year?

Any vaccine is going to be a long term thing,if they do develop one it then has to be produced by the millions, 18 months to 2 years would be a reasonable time scale for that