The COVID-19 pandemic has derailed many sporting activities across the globe but the 2020 cycling season is not lost locally, in fact, plans are in the pipeline to get the wheels of the discipline turning once again. A meeting is scheduled to be held shortly by the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) with clubs and riders to pave the way forward for the remainder of the 2020 season.
This is according to Racing Secretary, Malcolm Sonoram.
“Things that were planned for this year have been appropriated for next year but 2020 is not a lost season,” said Sonoram yesterday.
“It is more or less a setback, it’s like the Olympics,” he added.
Sonoram pointed out that during the last few weeks internationally, there have been constant communication between riders, teams, organisers as well as other relevant parties all with the support of the governing body, Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). UCI is responsible for arranging a new global cycling schedule, in which the biggest spectacle, the Tour de France takes pride of place.
The Tour de France, which attracts the creme de la creme of the world’s riders, was postponed from June 27-July 19 and is now scheduled for August 29 to September 20.
Sonoram stated that following the meeting here, riders and officials will hash out the parameters for the safe return of cycling on the local circuit.
At the forefront of the discussions will include the National Championships.
“During the meeting, we will discuss the National Championships, the way forward and races for the remainder of the season,” Sonoram disclosed.
He also revealed that he will be pushing to have races in the National Park “to keep the sport alive.”
Sonoram concluded by appealing to cyclists to continue to take every precaution before, during and after training as a means of keeping the novel virus at wheel’s length. To date, no local cyclists have tested positive for COVID-19.
