Donegal has been added to level 3 restrictions by the Irish government. These restrictions have been put in place for three weeks (up until 16th October).
Key implications for cycling activities are as follows.
– No events can now take place in the county, the Strabane-Lifford GP due to take place tomorrow (Saturday) has therefore been cancelled.
– Donegal residents cannot participate in events outside of the county with the exception of Elite Championships (these events are outlined in below guidance from Cycling Ireland).
– Training groups are also capped at a maximum of 15.
Cycling Ireland – Covid-19 Update 25.09.20
The Government has published a framework for restrictive measures to guide Ireland over the short to medium-term in managing Covid-19.
The framework consists of 5 levels. The lower levels of the framework will be activated when there is a low incidence of the disease, with isolated outbreaks and low community transmission. The higher levels will be used to deal with higher incidences of the disease.
In a government announcement made on 18 September 2020, Dublin was placed on level 3 of the framework effective at midnight on Friday. On Thursday, 24 September 2020 Donegal was moved to level 3. All other counties within the Republic of Ireland remain on level 2.
Level 3 – Dublin / Donegal
The key implications for Cycling Ireland’s approved events and activities are as follows.
Training
- Outdoors: Non contact training only in pods of up to 15 (exemption for professional/elite/inter-county sports/senior club championship).
Cycling Ireland club training sessions and approved activities can proceed provided government guidelines regarding maximum participant numbers are adhered to and riders stay within the county.
- Indoors: Individual training only.
Matches and events
- No matches or events to take place. (exemption: professional/elite/inter-county/club championship/horse-racing can take place behind closed doors.)
Participation in cycling events are not permitted to take place. Within a cycling context, exemptions are in place for the Elite Paracycling Road National Championships (25.09.2020), Elite Paracycling Track National Championships (26.09.2020) and Elite Team Sprint/Pursuit/Keirin National Championship (10.10.2020).
These events will take place behind closed doors. A behind closed doors event can include ‘any individual involved in the participation, running, delivery, or broadcasting of the event’.
Parents/Guardians attending in a safeguarding /supervisory capacity are not classified as a spectator, however strict social distancing and public health guidelines should be adhered to at all times. In that context, one parent/guardian per child is permitted to attend a sporting event, including a game or training session, should they consider it necessary.
In light of the guidelines, the Master’s Track National Championship and Women’s Intermediate League Round 3 have unfortunately been cancelled from the weekend of 19/20 September.
Travel
- Travel restrictions into and out of Level 3 counties, except for work and essential journeys.
Travel into and out of Level 3 counties is permitted for work and essential journeys only. This is likely to impact a number of members due to participate in events during the period restrictions remain in place. Therefore, Cycling Ireland will work with Event Organisers and facilitate event entry refunds for effected people as soon as possible.
Additional guidance received by Cycling Ireland in recent days allows for the following exemptions.
- Professional Team riders (UCI) and Sport Ireland/Sport NI carded athletes
- Athletes participating in an Elite National Championships – Elite Road National Championships (01 to 04 October 2020), Elite Paracycling Road National Championships (25.09.2020), Elite Paracycling Track National Championships (26.09.2020) and Elite Team Sprint/Pursuit/Keirin National Championship (10.10.2020). At present Dublin based riders will be eligible to compete in these events if they wish to do so.
Level 2
The key implications for Cycling Ireland’s approved events and activities are as follows.
Training
- Outdoors: training can take place in pods of up to 15 (exemption for professional/elite/inter-county sports/senior club championship).
Cycling Ireland club training sessions and approved activities can proceed provided government guidelines regarding maximum participant numbers are adhered to.
- Indoors: training, exercise and dance classes can take place in pods of up to 6 inside (exemption for professional/elite/inter-county sports/senior club championship).
Matches and events
The limit for cycling races and sportive events remains at 200 people inclusive of participants and those involved in the delivery of the event.
Cycling events should continue to be run behind closed doors. A behind closed doors event can include ‘any individual involved in the participation, running, delivery, or broadcasting of the event’.
Parents/Guardians attending in a safeguarding /supervisory capacity are not classified as a spectator however strict social distancing and public health guidelines should be adhered to at all times. In that context, one parent/guardian per child is permitted to attend a sporting event, including a game or training session, should they consider it necessary.
Visit www.gov.ie for more information.
