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Corona Virus: Keep Calm and Carry On Cycling

Gran Fondo Guide has reached out to thousands of event organizers worldwide and here's our take on the current situation

Corona Virus: Keep Calm and Carry On Cycling

At the present time, event organizers who are affected, are postponing their events until later on this year. The main regions affected are the United States and Europe, as more public health restrictions are put in place.

Several countries including the United States and the United Kingdom are now working on the principle to "flatten the curve" of the outbreak and more importantly, protect and isolate the elderly who are the most vunerable.

The current public health restrictions could last a few months. As you may have seen, the Giro d'Italia and most of the Spring Classics have been postponed until later on in the year.

At this time, only a handful of events have completely cancelled their 2020 editions, notably the GFNY World Championship and the Tour of Gila road race in the United States, the Absa Cape Epic in South Africa. 

Given the complexity of the cycling calendar and permits required for some events, it’s unlikely that all events will be rescheduled for later on in 2020, but so far, only a handful have cancelled their 2020 plans and have rolled entries over to 2021.

I've already entered some events, what should I do?

Organizers who are affected are in the process of re-scheduling their events later on this year, after "peak outbreak" has past. Not all sporting events provide refunds for "Acts of God", which are part of their entry terms and conditions.

The best advice we can recommend at the moment is don't panic. Event organizers will contact you if their event is postponed. If absolute needs must, contact the event organizer directly if you are concerned if the event is taking place or whether you should attend.

If you have entered events and they are postponed, you'll be able to take part when the new dates are confirmed.

2020 Cycling Events Postponed due to Corona Virus (COVID19)

Below are events that have been postponed (with no confirmed new date as yet)

Date Event Location Routes Diff  Type My Rides
Mar 07 Shasta Gravel Hugger Montague CA 34, 62, 100 miles C GRAVEL
Apr 25 Ride Dingle Dingle Ireland 55, 120 km C GRANFONDO
May 02 - May 03 Tour of Hermann Gravel Challenge Hermann Missouri USA 97, 105 miles C GRAVEL
May 09 Rolling Hills Challenge Columbus TX 25, 50, 62, 100 Mile D CENTURY
May 09 Rolling Hills Challenge Columbus TX 25, 50, 62, 100 miles D TOUR
May 18 The Assault on Mount Mitchell Spartanburg SC 72.4, 102.7 miles E GRANFONDO
May 20 - May 26 All Points North Sheffield United Kingdom 72 hours E BIKEPACKING
May 22 - May 23 Cranbrook Gravel Grind Cranbrook Canada 65, 112km B GRAVEL
Jun 06 Mount Isa Border Ride Mt Isa QLD Australia 202km D ULTRA
Jun 13 Mile High 100 Chester California USA 33, 66, 108 miles C CENTURY
Jun 20 Garrett County Gran Fondo McHenry MD 25, 44, 63, 100, 125 miles F GRANFONDO
Jun 20 Terrible Two Double Century Sebastopol CA 200 miles, 18,500 feet F DOUBLE
Jun 21 161 Miglia Jesolo Italy 120, 161 km D GRANFONDO
Jun 27 Vermont Gran Fondo Bristol VT 40, 85, 109, 140 miles E GRANFONDO
Jul 12 - Jul 18 BIKE Transalp Imst Austria 500 km, 18,000 m+ F MTB
Jul 18 MFC Foundation Captain Cook Middlesbrough North Yorkshire 75, 106, 160 km D SPORTIVE
Aug 07 - Aug 09 Vollgummi Burgdorf Switzerland 500km D BIKEPACKING
Sep 11 - Sep 13 British Gravel Championships Dalby Forest North Yorkshire 16.1, 120km C GRAVEL
Sep 11 - Sep 14 Ochoco Overlander Prineville OR 175 miles D BIKEPACKING
Sep 12 The Hondo Augusta Kansas USA 29, 77, 119 miles D GRAVEL
Sep 13 Teatro Okolo Malohontu Rimavska Sobota Slovakia 70km C GRANFONDO
Sep 13 Teatro Okolo Malohunto Rimavska Robota Slovakia 70km C GRANFONDO
Nov 07 - Nov 08 Lismore Cycling Festival Lismore NSW 28, 70, 110km C GRANFONDO
Dec 11 - Dec 13 Dr Evil Classic Plettenberg Bay South Africa 3 stages C MTB
 

Should I carry on training outside?

Absolutely a resounding YES for many good reasons:

  Any postponed events are likely to be re-scheduled to a later date in the year which you can take part in. You need to keep fit!
 
  You are less likely to contract Coronavirus by being outside on your bike training on your own or with a small group of heathly friends, as it doesn't like sunlight (UV sunlight) and cannot survive as long outside.
 
  You may need to change any coached training program(s) due to the delay in your event(s) taking place. You also don't want to overdo any heavy weight loss or fasted riding if you cannot self isolate easily, as this affects your immune system (to keep the virus at bay).
 
  Panicking that your main event has been cancelled or may be postponed is actually detrimental to your mental health (stress) and thus, your physical health (immune system).
 
  You might be afraid to ride outside in the colder weather for fear of illness, but that’s not true; there is no data to prove that you will get sick from any respiratory pathogen when riding in cold weather.
 
  With social distancing now preferred, if you opt to ride instead of using public transport, you will open up space on buses and trains for others who don’t have that option.
 
  You probably already noticed that traffic is lighter than usual as people start working from home or stay at home. What a great time to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors!
 
  Don't ride in a large groups and please refrain from blowing snot-rockets everywhere until "peak outbreak" subsides. Wear gloves and refrain from touching any objects, especially with your bare hands.
 
  Social distancing is the right strategy. Experts are still trying to figure out how long the virus lives on objects, and the problem is that it appears to be highly contagious, spread easily by coughing and sneezing, and can be spread by people who don’t think they’re sick. That’s why hand-washing and not touching your face are so important.
 
  Jump on your home trainer, sign up for Zwift and train in the comfort of your own home, if you are worried about getting sick, you might be sick or worse quarentined.

2020 Cycling Events Cancelled due to Corona Virus (COVID19)

Below are events that have been cancelled, with no new date confirmed in 2020.

Date Event Location Routes Diff  Type My Rides
Jun 21 Gran Fondo Citta di Padova Padova Italy 92,128 km C GRANFONDO
 

Keep Calm and Carry On Cycling

Stay fit and healthy, and enjoy those events that aren't affected unless public health restrictions apply.

Just think how well you're going to go will all that training when your postponed events are back on?

For the most up-to-date information, check resources like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) regularly.