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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
Oct 17 Real Ale Ride Blanco Texas USA 15, 30, 50, 65, 85 miles C CENTURY
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
Jan 22 RADL GRVL Femmes pb Wahoo McLaren Flat Australia 35, 64, 128 km C GRAVEL
Jan 22 RADL GRVL pb Quad Lock McLaren Flat Australia 35, 115 km C GRAVEL
Feb 27 - Feb 28 UCI Granfondo Leiria Region MontemoroVelho Portugal 93, 146 km C GRANFONDO
Oct 02 Just Gravel Grizdale Grizedale Forest Cumbria 15, 32, 45 km E GRAVEL
 

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
Oct 24 La Vuelta Mayakoba Mayakoba Mexico 85, 151 km C GRANFONDO
Oct 24 Solvang Sequel Prelude Buellton CA 62 miles C CENTURY
Oct 24 - Oct 26 Baileys Dirt Fondo Millfield OH 11, 22, 45 miles
Oct 25 Oktoberfest Ride Collegeville PA 46, 62 miles D FESTIVAL
Oct 30 Mike Nosco Memorial Bicycle Ride Newbury Park California USA 42, 68, 80 miles E GRANFONDO
Oct 31 Tri States Gran Fondo Mesquite Nevada USA 54, 100 miles D GRANFONDO
Oct 31 - Nov 01 Tour de Calistoga Calistoga CA 22, 47, 76 miles F TOUR
Oct 31 Salisbury Plain Autumn Epic Thruxton Andover 92 km C GRAVEL
Nov 01 GFNY Colonia Colonia Uruguay 87, 153 km D GRANFONDO
Nov 01 Livestrong Challenge Austin Texas USA 20, 45, 65, 100 miles D LEISURE
Nov 07 Gravel Mob Ojai CA 30, 58 miles C GRAVEL
Nov 22 GFNY Puerto Rico Fajardo Puerto Rico 54, 92 km D GRANFONDO
Dec 06 Tussey Mountain Ugly Sweater Race Boalsburg PA 8.9, 19.6 miles C MTB
Jan 28 - Jan 30 UCI Gran Fondo Jordan Dead Sea Dead Sea Jordan 25, 74 km B GRANFONDO
Mar 21 GFNY Spare Aguascalientes Mexico 78, 146 km D GRANFONDO
Mar 28 White Horse Ridge Gravel Oxfordshire South East UK 30, 44, 75km C GRAVEL
Mar 28 - Mar 31 Solvang Spring Tour Solvang California USA 40-60, 60-100 miles per day D TOUR
Apr 24 Mount Laguna Classic Pine Valley CA 47, 75, 102 miles C CENTURY
May 01 Cedar City Fire Road 100 Cedar City Utah USA 60, 100 km D GRAVEL
May 15 Volcano Fire Road 120K Veyo UT 75 miles D GRAVEL
May 15 Battle Gravel 100 Winchester South East UK 32, 40, 61km C GRAVEL
May 29 Nordic Gravel Series Uppsala Uppsala Sweden 20, 180, 160km C GRAVEL
May 29 - Jul 13 French Divide Nord France 1367 miles E BIKEPACKING
Jun 05 Tour of Two Forests Double Century Santa Clarita California USA 200 miles, 13,300 feet F DOUBLE
Jun 06 Ride Clwyd Sportive Chester 50, 70, 100 miles D SPORTIVE
Jul 04 Davina's Big Sussex Bike RIDE Uckfield Kent 27, 46, 74, 100 miles C SPORTIVE
Jul 04 RIDE Wessex Downs Pangbourne College 34, 70, 100 miles C SPORTIVE
Jul 24 - Jul 28 Supergrevet Vienna Trieste Vienna 550 km F BIKEPACKING
Aug 28 Houffa Gravel Houffalize Belgium 68, 110 km D GRAVEL
Sep 05 Port Perry Pedals Port Perry 6, 12, 31, 62, 100 miles C TOUR
 

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.