July 14
– The 2020 Fox US Open of Mountain Biking has officialy been cancelled.
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The US OPEN is built on community. Every athlete, youth racer, family member, volunteer, spectator, event partner – contributes to the energy that creates the Fox US OPEN of Mountain Biking experience. We came into 2020 with unreal momentum and were excited and committed to building upon the US OPEN heritage. We’ve been hesitant to make any official announcement regarding the status of our events, hoping that things would come together for the USO Race Festival this fall. As we’ve watched so many major events around the world cancel, and after much careful consideration of the health and safety of our community, our global roster of athletes and partners – we’re announcing today that we will not be hosting the 2020 US Open Race Festival or Slopestyle competition.
We’ll sure miss the party with you all this year – rest assured we’ve already begun to work on 2021 US Open plans. Alongside the rest of our global MTB community, we will continue to do the best we can to keep the stoke alive and support our community as we navigate these times. While we can’t promise anything, we are still looking at options to host regional Next Gen Youth MTB Tour stops for late 2020 – stay tuned. Thank you for all your support, we hope you’re able to get out on your bike wherever you are in the world! |
July 7
– A few months ago, Bentonville Bike Fest 2020 was postponed, it has now been canceled with planning now turning to 2021.
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Bentonville Bike Fest appreciates the continued and growing enthusiasm for the cycling scene in the region and we thank our event sponsors, organizers, vendors and especially all those who share our love of bikes. We were looking forward to seeing so many new people who have embraced cycling during this time, however, we look forward to gathering in large numbers for Bike Fest next year.
The best interests of the festival attendees, riders, vendors, and staff will always be our top priority. We’re putting 2020 behind us and planning for Bike Fest ’21. Please be safe and stay tuned for updates later this year. Keep the pedal to the medal! |
July 1
– Back in March, the Sea Otter Classic was one of the first major cycling events to be postponed. The event was pushed from its traditional April to October 1-4. Instead of the usual Sea Otter coverage in April, we pivoted to host a virtual Pond Beaver show on Pinkbike.
Now, the organizers have made the decision to cancel the 2020 event entirely, saying that in discussions with Monterey County health officials, “it has become clear that we cannot host an event that will meet our health and safety standards.”
Instead, organizers will host a virtual Sea Otter Play event in September. Sea Otter is a unique event where racing meets tradeshow, so there will be both ride challenges starting at the beginning of September before the tradeshow component will be September 17-20.
– USA Cycling has announced that the USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships won’t be held in 2020, saying that they do not feel confident that they “can ensure the safety of our participants, volunteers, staff, and host communities.”
June 22
The Trans Cascadia was scheduled for September 23-28, 2020.
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This has been a difficult year and current events are challenging and serious as we sit here and try to plan a race. We have been existing for months in the painful situation of not knowing what to do.
We consulted our volunteers, staff, local community, medical professionals, Forest Service, and government officials. At the end of the day, these are the questions that we had to ask ourselves about holding the 2020 event. • Is it socially responsible? The answer to all these questions is no. And that is why we made the decision to cancel the race. By avoiding the additional rental fees that come with committing to the event, we can still offer 50% refunds, have small build parties, continue our year-round advocacy for the backcountry trails, and have a race in 2021. Registered racers for this year will receive 50% of their entry fees back and guaranteed entry for 2021 at a reduced entry rate of $2000 ($300 off). As the advocacy and trail work that makes Trans-Cascadia a reality is ongoing and year-round, half of the funds that you have invested with us have already been spent on reclaiming the backcountry trails that were intended to be in the race this year (we started the work in October 2019) as well as, on continuing the important work of protecting all the mountain bike access to this and previous TC locations in the backcountry. Trans-Cascadia operates as a registered non-profit, therefore these fees can be claimed as a tax-deductible donation (details below). We know that we did everything we could to navigate these hard times and that this is just a really shitty situation for everyone involved. Cancelling the event has never been on our radar before 2020 and so it is hard to find the words to communicate the difficulty of this decision. We’ve lost a lot of sleep over this, and won’t be sleep any better having decided to cancel the race. |
Update: Trans Cascadia Allows Racers to Defer Entry Following Cancellation Feedback
June 19
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Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cycling Canada and our provincial and territorial cycling associations have been committed to making decisions in the interest of ensuring a safe sporting environment for our members and participants at all levels and in all parts of the country. While there are now varying signs of improvement in the pandemic across the country and some provinces are beginning to carefully roll out Return to Play frameworks, we continue to work with various local organizing committees to determine feasibility of hosting national-level events.
As of today, Cycling Canada is in a position to confirm the cancelation of the below Canadian Championship events, in addition to those national events already listed on our Events Status webpage: Canadian XCO MTB Championships – Hardwood Ski & Bike, ON Cycling Canada has consulted with each of the above local organizing committees extensively to review all relevant information regarding the decision to cancel these events, and supports these difficult decisions to cancel. For all of the above-listed cancelations, we are happy to announce that each of these organizations will plan to return to the National events calendar in 2021, with final dates to be confirmed in the coming months. |
June 12
– While organizers initially hoped to run the event in September, they have now cancelled the 2020 event entirely.
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Despite our most optimistic efforts to press forward with our September event, it is with great disappointment that we are forced to cancel our 2020 race. We are grateful to our racers for their patience and understanding as well as to our sponsors and partners for their continued support.
We have communicated directly with our racers to let them know that their 2020 race entry can be deferred to 2021, 2022 and 2023 without additional fees. We are incredibly disappointed to have race week cancelled for 2020, but we’ll be back next year and look forward to putting on our best event yet! |
June 5
– The Megavalanche 2020 has been cancelled. The full press release from the organizers is below:
“Dear riders,
“We had hoped to be able to maintain the 25th anniversary of the Megavalanche de l’Alpe d’Huez this summer, but to date the prospects for international travel, large-scale gatherings and the sanitary measures imposed do not allow us to envisage holding this major event in good conditions.
“The organizing committee, in agreement with Alpe d’Huez, has therefore decided, reluctantly, to cancel the Megavalanche 2020.
“But as they say, the king is dead, long live the king! We are happy to announce you that we’ll organize from July 31st to August 2nd, the “Super Maxiavalanche of Alpe d’Huez”, to offer you your dose of alpine sensation in the Marathon Downhill of the year!
“On the programme, two qualifying runs (Friday and Saturday afternoon) and two race runs on Sunday, by level groups ! All the details of this new event, as well as the registrations link will be sent to you as soon as possible! However, registration will be limited to 800 participants, in order to reduce the risks and the queue at the lifts. So stay tuned and register asap if you want to get your spot.
“All registrations for the Megavalanche 2020 will be refunded (less the 6€ cancellation insurance, which we grant to all registered participants).
“We hope to be able to count you among us on August 2nd for this Super Maxiavalanche, and all the more so to celebrate the 25th +1 anniversary of the Mega in 2021 (dates to be confirmed)!
“Until then, stay safe, keep riding and have fun on the trails!”
– The NAHBS 2020 has been cancelled. The full press release from the organizers is below:
“As you’re well aware, we originally rescheduled NAHBS 2020 from March 15-17 to August 21-23, a change we felt optimistic about. During the past months, we’ve been watching intently how the COVID-19 pandemic is playing out. And we’ve continued to be in close contact with a sampling of exhibitors, sponsors, trade show consultants, show staff, and our contacts at the Convention Center in Dallas.
“While Texas is currently in Phase 3 of its “reopening” plan, COVID-19 cases in Dallas are still on the rise. And unfortunately, the Governor hasn’t made any plan to allow large groups and events to take place. With NAHBS scheduled to take place in less than three months – and based on what we currently know and predictions for the summer — we’re making the difficult decision to cancel NAHBS 2020 and focus our efforts on 2021.
“Based on the many exhibitors and partners we’ve spoken to, no one wants to be in a large crowd, primarily indoors, this summer. We’re certain that even if we held the show this August, attendance would be extremely low — which none of us want. Throw in the current difficulties of international travel and limited domestic travel, and the challenges of putting on a successful show this summer are insurmountable.
“After much consideration and in talking closely with many exhibitors and partners about potential venues and dates for next year’s show, we took note. NAHBS 2021 will be held in the third quarter – we’re shooting for some time in September — and we’re considering other cities for the show. Dallas, TX is still in the running, but we are also considering Chicago, IL; Hartford, CT; and Indianapolis, IN.
“If you’ve already purchased a ticket for NAHBS 2020, please fill out the Contact form on the website and we’ll issue you a refund
“Thank you for your support of NAHBS. We’ll be posting news and updates on 2021 soon.”
June 3
– The Ard Rock race in the UK has been cancelled. The full press release from the organizers is below:
“We have waited out for as long as we considered fair, in hope that we would be able to host the 2020 edition of Ard Rock in just a couple of months from now. The global, national and local situation means that our plans for this year’s event have been all but extinguished. It should go without saying that the safety of our competitors, visitors and equally that of the local residents in the surrounding area of Ard Rock Festival are the number one priority. We are at the mercy of this situation and thank you all for your understanding and ongoing support.
“Ard Rock 2021 will take place from 6-8th August, and we promise to deliver the best MTB riding and festival to have ever graced British soil. All Ard Rock 2020 entrants have been sent an email with refund and transfer options.
“Please remember, the charities we support are still subject to their normal operating costs this year. In order for us to best support them in these challenging times, we have decided to sell all of the Ard Rock 2019 merchandise and donate the money to Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team. You can purchase and donate at the Ard Rock store here https://ardrock.co.uk/store/
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I would like to make a very open and personal thank you to all of our competitors, visitors, exhibitors, team and local residents within the Ard Rock community. Your care and support over the past year [post Dales Floods in 2019] has been unquestionably the most humbling and heart-warming experience. As a team, we are motivated and excited to work towards the greatest Ard Rock ever in 2021. Thank you all again, we are excited to see you very soon. |
“And a little fun….If the situation improves and we gain approval within our window of opportunity, then we would love to celebrate with the mountain bike community by hosting an *event to bring us back together. It won’t have all of the things that we love about Ard Rock, but we’ll make sure to have a hell of a ride, camping facilities and some local beers to celebrate.”
*If you have a 2020 booking for Ard Rock, this will not be used for this smaller community event.
June 3
– Outerbike has made the decision to cancel its next three Outerbike events: Killington, Crested Butte and Duluth.
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Due to everything learned from the state health departments, cities, and counties, group sizes will still be limited in July and August, ultimately preventing us from holding these three events. Outerbike will be offering guests credit for any future Outerbike event through 2021, in addition to giving them an additional free ticket to bring a friend, as well as reaching out to exhibitors individually to work out details about these cancellations and about future plans for 2020 and beyond. As of this time, Outerbike feels strongly that the fall events, and all three September and October events — South Lake Tahoe, Bentonville and Moab — are still happening. We hope to see you there and look forward to a time when we’re all back together riding bikes. See the website for all COVID-related news and announcements here |
– Despite forming part of the revised World Cup season published a fortnight ago, Val di Sole has now cancelled both the World Cup XC and DH rounds that were due to take place in September. The 4X World Championships that were due to be held on the same weekend have also been cancelled. Read more here.
May 26
– In lieu of the in-person Taipei Cycle Show, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) has decided to launch the exhibition in VR and 2D formats, starting today: https://vancouver.taiwantrade.com/news/detail?id=29591 As TAITRA’s representative office in Western Canada, Taiwan Trade Center, Vancouver is also offering digital sourcing services for biking companies, allowing businesspeople to video-conference with Taiwanese suppliers from the comforts of their own office or home.
May 25
– Cycling Canada cancels all events originally scheduled on or before July 31st.
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Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cycling Canada and our provincial and territorial cycling associations have been committed to making decisions in the interest of ensuring a safe sporting environment for our members and participants at all levels and in all parts of the country. While there are now varying signs of improvement in the pandemic across the country and some provinces are beginning to carefully ease COVID-19 restrictions, we feel that it is prudent at this time to extend the list of cancelled or postponed events on the national calendar to include all events originally scheduled on or before July 31st. |
May 14
– All Leadville-based mountain bike and run events will be cancelled amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The Leadville Race Series is near and dear to us at Life Time, as it is to our athletes and the family and friends that support them, but we have to do what’s ultimately best for the Leadville community and our participants. Given the decision of the Lake County Commissioners, which we fully support, we will be cancelling the series for 2020, for the health and safety of all,” says Kimo Seymour, President, Life Time Athletic Events. “Our team will look forward to bringing the events back in 2021 when we get to the new normal, but for now, we’re sure going to miss our athletes and sponsors. Our sincere hope is that our friends and business partners in the community can survive the financial impact of this difficult decision.” |
May 10
– South Wales police will be conducting patrols of Bike Park Wales after riders have been damaging the trails during lockdown. Bike Park Wales said that riders were gathering in groups and removing barriers to ride unopened trails while staff were away from the park.
Bike Park Wales said: “Unfortunately some people just cannot play by the rules… We have seen a large number of riders continue to ride at the bike park during this period of closure. Some genius even removed around 30 barriers as they felt it was OK for them to ride our new green trail?…
“We have tried the light touch and it hasn’t worked so South Wales Police Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf have stepped in to help and will be conducting regular patrols of the hill to assist our own security in protecting our trails. Together we will be preventing trespass on the trails by both mountain bikes and motor bikes.
“It’s sad it has come to this but we must prevent damage to the trails, blatant disregard for common decency and the risk of an accident on site, not to mention the disregard for social distancing that some groups of riders have shown.
“Sorry to have to make such a negative post but if you can, please help us spread the word that trespassing riders will not receive a warm welcome.”
May 8
– The Christchurch Adventure Park (CAP) is preparing for the third opening in its four and a half year history, when the country moves into the next phase of its COVID-19 response. The Park has been closed since the country entered Alert Level 3 on 23 March.
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Under the Alert Level 2 guidelines outlined by the Prime Minister yesterday, the Park will be able to open all of its facilities and activities as soon as New Zealand moves out of Alert Level 3, including our riding and walking trails, the zipline experience and our café. We cannot wait to open the gates again, particularly with this being the second time we’ve been forced to close in three years for reasons outside of our control!
“We have had staff working on the trails during Alert Level 3, so riders are going to love experiencing the improvements to their favourite trails when they return to the Park. In addition, there will be some new features for people to check out at the Park including a new walking trail in the trees that, once completed at the end of this month, will mean we have a full loop trail for walkers in the Park. |
Once the Park reopens in Alert Level 2, the opening hours over Winter will be 11am – 7pm Wednesdays and Fridays, 11am – 5pm Thursdays and 10am – 4pm at weekends. The Park will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. All necessary safety measures will be taken to ensure that customers can feel safe to make the most of the Park, such as physical distancing in the café, on trails and while using the chairlift, and thorough cleaning of all facilities and equipment including a cleaning down of the chairlift bar after every rotation.
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Customers will be able to feel assured that we are doing everything we can to protect their physical health at this time, while they use the natural surrounds and active wellness opportunities here at the Park to look after their mental health. The Park is looking better than ever right now and the trails are in mint condition, so we can’t wait to get our customers back in here and see the place buzzing with activity again. |
– The 25th Annual Downieville Classic has been cancelled.
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With great sadness the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship announces the cancelation of the 25th Annual Downieville Classic. Although the decision to cancel was agonizing due to the impact on racers, the volunteers, staff and the community, the decision was necessary. After sitting down with the Sierra County Public Health Officer, the Board of Supervisors and Sheriff, for the safety of the community, SBTS agreed there is no way a large gathering can happen in Downieville this year.
Sierra County is among the only counties in California with currently zero reported cases of COVID-19. With about 3,000 residents, the aging population has limited medical resources and is highly vulnerable to a viral outbreak. SBTS and its bike shop Yuba Expeditions invest immeasurable love into Downieville, and we don’t want our operations or guests to be responsible for potentially introducing the virus. In addition to canceling the 2020 Downieville Classic, Yuba Expeditions in Downieville will be closed until further notice. At this time, we urge you to please not visit Downieville or other Lost Sierra mountain communities until government officials say it is safe to do so. |
Read the full statement from the Downieville organizers here.
– The Outerbike Deer Valley event, which was scheduled for the weekend of June 19-21 has been cancelled since state health department rules regarding group gatherings remain uncertain through June. Outerbike will be offering the attendees who were registered for Deer Valley a credit for a future Outerbike and the opportunity to bring a friend for free to any Outerbike through 2021.
While there’s still the possibility they will be cancelled, there are currently six other Outebike events on the calendar this year: Killington, VT (July 24 – 26), Crested Butte, CO (August 14 – 16), Duluth, MN (August 28 – 30), South Lake Tahoe, CA (Sept 18 – 20), Moab, UT (Oct 2 – 4), and Bentonville, AR (Oct 23 – 25).
You can read more info on Outerbike’s COVID page here.
May 6
– Specialized lays off 46 employees, 7% of its workforce, mostly from its global support staff. Mike Sinyard said in an interview with Bicycle Retailer that, “The future is quite uncertain and we’re doing everything we can to retain out top talent. But we are very optimistic about the future of the company and cycling.”
Sinyard also said he is forfeiting 100 percent of his base salary and senior management is taking a 30% reduction in their salaries. “Specialized is now 46 years old and we’ve grown a lot. Regrettably, some of the people we had, who’ve done a fine job for us, we don’t need; we have to make room for new people. I know that sounds harsh, but that’s the way it is,” he added. Read more here.
May 5
– Dakine is closing its office in Hood River, laying off 39 staff and relocating to Southern California due to “the financial and operational impacts that the COVID pandemic have had on the business”. Dakine said: “We will be transitioning operations and a number of employees to our global headquarters in Southern California. This transition will be phased and as appropriate, we will communicate timing, points of contact, and next steps. We do not anticipate any further disruption to the business or its operations throughout the transition.” More info, here.
– The Mont Sainte Anne World Cup XC and Dh World Cups have been cancelled, leaving just 2 races currently in the calendar for both disciplines. The full story can be found here.
May 4
– As Germany extends a ban on major events until the end of August, Eurobike has pushed back its dates to November and announced a slimmed-down program. The event was initially scheduled to run from 2 to 5 September in its normal format but will now be on 24 to 26 November 2020 as a “pure B2B concept” that will run for three days and drops the public day. Also missing will be the parties and the test and demo area as the show focusses more on maintaining retail contacts and helping drive new impetus.
Stefan Reisinger, Head of Eurobike explains: “Suppliers, brands and retailers are all starting the 2020 bike season facing very difficult conditions and will hopefully benefit from recovery effects over time. One thing is certain, all industry players will have to adapt to the postponed development of the season compared to previous years. The later Eurobike date gives the whole bike industry an opportunity to make plans at the end of the 2020 season for the coming sales and production season. As such, it also offers a unique chance to meet up, to exchange ideas, and to work and network this year.”
Exhibitors will be offered cheaper booth prices due to the truncated program. More info, here.
April 30
– The UCI has announced that the XC World Championships which were due to take place between June 25-28 in Albstadt, Germany has been cancelled.
After initially postponing the XC World Championships on March 28 the UCI has announced today that the event will no longer be taking place in Albstadt this year.
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In the context of the current pandemic (Covid-19) linked to the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) regrets having to announce that the 2020 UCI Mountain Bike Cross-country World Championships presented by Mercedes Benz due to take place in Albstadt (Germany) from 25 to 28 June, are cancelled.
The UCI and the organisers cooperated throughout the process, initially seeking a postponement of the event, before agreeing to take the difficult decision to cancel the Championships. The UCI shares the disappointment of the cross-country community, and acknowledges the efforts made by the City of Albstadt, the German cycling National Federation (BDR) and the State of Baden-Württemberg in these difficult circumstances. The UCI and the organisers hope to collaborate on the staging of international mountain bike events in the very near future. The UCI will continue to work on ensuring that the UCI Mountain Bike Cross-country World Championships presented by Mercedes-Benz are staged in 2020. It will make an announcement on this as soon as possible. |
April 28
– Cane Creek has resumed operations after nearly a month at its North Carolina facility. Cane Creek initially shut down due to COVID restrictions and planned on re-opening on April 10 however it took until now for the state to deem it as an essential business. Cane Creek will be opening for limited operations and following NC and CDC prevention guidelines. The brand is asking customers to expect longer than usual fulfillment times on all orders.
– London Bike Show has cancelled its 2020 date and will now take place in March 2021. The show was scheduled for the end of March and was initially rescheduled for July, however, this has now also been cancelled. The proposed venue, the Excel Centre, has been turned into NHS Nightingale, an emergency hospital with capacity for 5,000 patients. The organisers said, “By delaying until then, we feel that this will give businesses involved in the show (both exhibitors and our contractors) a much better chance to make a full recovery from this difficult period.” Any purchased tickets will automatically be transferred.
April 27
– In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Cycling Canada is extending the list of cancelled or postponed events to include everything originally scheduled on or before July 6. Despite originally being scheduled for July 11-12, 2020, the Canadian XCO Mountain Bike Championships will also be postponed.
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Also of note with regards to this announcement are the Canadian XCO Mountain Bike Championships. Although this event is scheduled to occur after July 6th, the organizing committee, in close cooperation with Cycling Canada, has decided to postpone the event until further notice. More information regarding anticipated rescheduling of this event will be made public as it becomes available, in line with public health recommendations. |
Cycling Canada’s next recommendation concerning events scheduled beyond July 6th will be published on May 25th. For an up-to-date list of cancelled or postponed events on the national calendar, please consult the event list on the Cycling Canada website.
– Epic Rides announced the cancelation of this year’s Grand Junction Off-Road + Downtown Music Festival. The event was planned for the weekend of May 14-16, 2020.
April 23
– Peaty’s Steel City Downhill has been cancelled. It is set to return in 2021. Peaty posted on Instagram: “So sorry to announce that we have had to cancel the Steel City DH for this year!! 2021 will be epic though. #cheers for the support everyone.”
April 22
– The Red Bull District Ride, which was set to return to Nuremberg on September 4 & 5, has been cancelled. The event was expected to attract 40,000 spectators a day so was called off in accordance with the Federal Government’s decision to prohibit major events until 31 August 2020. Red Bull are exploring options to hold the event again in 2021.
April 14
– The UCI has announced the cancellation of the XC and DH World Cups in Vallnord however the venue is set to make a comeback in 2021. This is the first cancelled World Cup for the XC racers with Nove Mesto still seeking an alternate date, however the Albsatdt World Championships have also already been cancelled and racers will have to wait another year for the Olympics, which have been postponed until 2021. Next on the horizon for the XC racers is Lenzerheide, which could still be the season opener on August 15-16.
On the downhill side of things, we now have 3 cancelled races with Lousa and Maribor still looking to reschedule, this leaves a maximum of five rounds for the racers in 2020, assuming they all go ahead. There was supposed to be more than 2 months between Vallnord and the proposed sixth round in Mont Sainte Anne so we’re keeping everything crossed that will give enough time for the race to still go ahead.
Revised 2020 World Cup Calendars
Downhill
21/22 March: Lousa – Postponed, date tbc
02/03 May: Maribor – Postponed, date tbc
09/10 May: Losinj – Cancelled
06/07 June: Fort William – Cancelled
20/21 June: Vallnord – Cancelled
22/23 August: Mont-Sainte-Anne
12/13 September: Val di Sole
19/20 Septmeber: Les Gets
Cross Country
23/24 May: Nove Mesto – Postponed, date tbc
20/21 June: Vallnord – Cancelled
15/16 August: Lenzerheide
22/23 August: Mont-Sainte-Anne
12/13 September: Val di Sole
19/20 September: Les Gets
– A Cycleplan survey has revealed that 78% of British cyclists would be worried about their mental health if the Goveernment stopped them from cycling during the Coronavirus lockdown. Of the 547 riders surveyed, 66% said that cycling boosts their mood, 47% said it helps them manage anxiety and 51% of respondents stated that it helps them to reduce stress. Despite the lockdown, 86% of cyclists are still riding their bikes with 80% stating they had reduced their reliance on their car for short journeys.
– Garmin has released figures that indicate its user have increased their indoor cycling by 63% over the same period from last year. This is normally the time of year when indoor cycling drops off however it has increased dramatically due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
April 9
– The UCI has announced it is furloughing 130 staff and its leaders are taking pay cuts to confront the financial consequences of the world health crisis. The UCI is reporting that 650 events, or 30% of the international calendar, have been cancelled, with road and mountain biking events being the most affected.
These cancellations are weighing heavily on the federation’s finances and the press release notes that, “the rounds of the Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup are notably important in terms of revenue for our organisation.” To combat the financial difficulties, the UCI is introducing a number of cost-saving measures that will allow it to, “get through this crisis with limited damage, as long as the situation does not last longer than current predictions”.
As well as furloughing staff and pay cuts, other measures taken by the UCI include:
– Freezing of recruitment for an undefined period.
– Total revision of projects and objectives that had been fixed for 2020 and following years, and those in progress.
– Resizing of solidarity projects for National Federations.
– Generalisation of virtual meetings for the Management Committee, UCI Commissions and seminars.
– Examination (in progress) of contracts of service providers at events, consultants and general providers.
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Our International Federation is going through a crisis that we haven’t experienced since the Second World War. Inactivity is hitting athletes, teams, organisers, partners and the large majority of people and organisations that contribute to the vitality of our sport, across all its disciplines. The UCI, cycling’s governing body, has not been spared, far from it. The postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the multiplication of postponements and cancellations of events on the UCI International Calendar, and the uncertainty that weighs on the second part of the season are having a large impact on our sport in general and our Federation in particular. It is time for the cycling family to rally and, as one, prepare our sport to recover from this health and economic crisis that it has been hit by. Each of us is called on to be united, responsible and strong. That is why the UCI has taken some drastic action that should enable it to weather the storm. These choices are difficult but necessary if we wish to rebuild cycling post-Covid-19. |
Read more here.
– Sea Otter Canada has cancelled its inaugural event and has replaced it with a miniature Sea Otter Festival on September 18 and 19 at Blue Mountain Resort. It will feature the Scarecrow Gravel ride, family-friendly Sea Otter Hub & Spoke, kids races, and a mini-expo area sponsored by Continental and Subaru that will be right in the village.
The main event is already booked in again for July 2-4, 2021. Sea Otter Canada co-organizer Simon Williams said, “We know people are disappointed about losing so many events in the 2020 racing and riding season. So we wanted to make sure that there was still something on the calendar that everyone could look forward to—and what’s better than a fall festival atmosphere and perfect fall foliage for a gravel event?”
April 8
– Parks Canada recently closed all their parks and now BC Parks announced today that they have closed all provincial parks in response to the call for increased action to address COVID-19.
Federal and provincial directives have asked people to stay close to home to reduce COVID-19 transmission risk, but since some continue to ignore the order, they say was a necessary measure.
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Because physical distancing works, it is critical that we take every action needed to restrict the spread of COVID-19. This applies to British Columbians and out-of-province visitors who were planning to visit or stay at our provincial parks. The message is clear: stay home, avoid travel, do not put yourself or others at risk.
“I understand and share the love people in British Columbia have for the outdoors and the connection between health and proximity to nature. We tried to provide safe space for people to get some exercise and fresh air in our beautiful parks. But it has proven too challenging to maintain safe distance between visitors. This action is difficult but necessary. We look forward to the day we can welcome people back to our wonderful parks. |
Read more here.
– Eurobike has cancelled its Media Days event and floated a date at the end of March in case of a Coronavirus induced cancellation. The show is still scheduled to go ahead on 2-5 September but the contingency date has been put in place in case the situation in Europe does not improve by then. A decision will be made by mid May.
April 3
– Minnesota-based bicycle distributor Quality Bicycle Parts (QBP) has laid off 12% of its workforce, about 80 employees, Bicycle Retailer reported today.
“This was a painful decision. These were valued co-workers, and they are our friends and partners. We made this decision to ensure that QBP remains stable now and through what might come over the coming year,” said Rich Tauer, QBP’s president, in an email to dealers Friday morning.
“Our North American distribution centers are fully operational with the same service our retailers have always relied upon. I’ve been humbled to hear and see retailers and suppliers, saying that they depend on Q to get the products and services they need to the marketplace. It’s an honor and responsibility that everyone at Q truly takes to heart.”
Brain reported that distributor HLC has also made temporary worker hour reductions and “a few” furloughs.
April 1
– Crankworx Innsbruck, originally scheduled for June 10-14, has been postponed to September 30-October 4, 2020 in light of the unfolding coronavirus pandemic around the globe.
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We have been monitoring the situation closely with our colleagues in Austria. We’ve decided the most prudent course of action will be to make alternate arrangements for Crankworx Innsbruck. There are so many people who contribute to the success of our festivals, including athletes, media, sponsors, and fans. Their health is our #1 priority. We considered all these stakeholders when choosing the new dates, mindful of the fact that the fall event calendar is filling up as many other events are forced to postpone alongside us. Looking at the calendar in Innsbruck, this was our best option based on venue availability and accommodation. We want to thank everyone for their patience and understanding during these challenging times. For now, we’re focusing on the future – we can’t wait to put on a great show in Innsbruck come September. |
March 30
– CST Post NL Bafang Rider Mariske Strauss has confirmed she tested positive for COVID-19 following her third-place finish at the Andalucia Bike Race. Mariske entered self-isolation as soon as she returned from Spain and got tested shortly after. She had some mild flu-like symptoms and her test was confirmed soon after.
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The president of South Africa asked all South African people that went outside of the country as of February 15, to test for Covid-19. Since I travelled to Andalucia Bike Race, which took place 25 to 29 February, obviously I was asked to test as well. After a couple of days after the testing, I felt a little flu-ish and ill. And yes, actually I tested positive for the Coronavirus. With the grace of God I have had really mild symptoms, so very fortunate and blessed with that. I have kept social distancing, adhered to all the guidelines that was given to us anyway, regardless and thanks to that my parents and brother tested negative for the virus, so that is good. I have taken a lot of rest, healthy food and surrounded myself with positive things. Messages from my family, friends and yes, my team with our virtual dinner last week helped me so much to get over this. I am feeling fine now. |
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We are happy that Mariske only had mild symptoms and she is feeling good now. The health of our riders and staff is our Team’s priority number one. The situation worldwide at this moment is unusual and uncertain. Also for our Team, our riders and staff. We do what we can to protect others and ourselves from Covid-19 and to keep our riders and staff motivated and healthy. We try to stimulate our followers to take care for their health, mentally and physically. To stimulate and motivate them to keep a healthy lifestyle, within the guidelines given by the government. Let’s hope this worldwide crisis will be under control soon. As Mariske said: Together we can stop this!” |
We wish Mariske all the best in her continued recovery from her infection.
– Bicycle Retailer is reporting that Cane Creek has suspended operations in compliance with Henderson County shelter in place mandates. The company will halt until 10 April however its Taiwan operations will continue as normal. Online orders will be fulfilled once the facility reopens and customers should expect a longer than normal response time for emails.
– Sea Otter Europe will now take place at the end of September after organisers decided to postpone the event that was due to take place on the 29-31 May. The new date will see the event being held on the 25-27 of September just a few weeks before the Sea Otter Classic.
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The Sea Otter Europe organisers would like to thank Girona Provincial Council, the Costa Brava-Girona Tourist Board, Girona City Council and the Catalan Government for their willingness and backing in rescheduling the event for September,
We would also like to highlight the support and understanding that has come from the festival’s sponsors and the nearly 250 brands from all over the world that had already confirmed their presence at the fourth edition of Sea Otter Europe. |
March 28
– The UCI has announced that the XC World Championships which was due to take place between the 25-28 June has been postponed.
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In the current context of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) regrets to announce the necessity to postpone the 2020 UCI Mountain Bike Cross-Country World Championships presented by Mercedes-Benz initially scheduled in Albstadt, Germany, from 25 to 28 June.
The UCI fully supports the decision taken by the City of Albstadt, the German cycling National Federation (BDR) and the State of Baden-Württemberg. In view of the current sanitary situation across Europe and the world, holding the annual flagship of the discipline would have potentially posed a risk to the health of the riders, all those involved in the event and the fans. The UCI will work with the organisers to fix a new date. In accordance with the decisions announced on March 20 concerning disciplines other than road, in connection with the coronavirus, the UCI stresses that the UCI World Championships have priority within the framework of the revision of the UCI International Calendar with a view to the resumption of the 2020 season. The UCI shares the disappointment of the Cross-Country (XC) community following the postponement of the Championships and wishes to thank the City of Albstadt for its cooperation in these difficult circumstances, as well as the athletes, teams, partners and anyone concerned by the event for their understanding. |
Current list of all cancelled or postponed World Cup events:
March 27
– Hope has announced it will be temporarily shutting down its production facility to keep its staff and wider community safe during the COVID-19 epidemic.
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We are living in strange times which are affecting every part of our lives and requires changes for us all.
At Hope, we have now taken the difficult decision to temporarily suspend our production in an effort to keep our staff and wider community safe during the COVID-19 epidemic. The whole manufacturing and despatch departments are closed from Friday 27th March, initially for three weeks. Our customer service staff are all continuing to work remotely and can be contacted via the usual phone numbers and email addresses. We want to thank you for your understanding and look forward to riding with you all when we’re back up and running. |
March 26
– BC Bike Race won’t take place in July. The organizers have postponed it until September.
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At this time, we have made the difficult, but obvious choice to postpone the 2020 BC Bike Race until September 2020.
BCBR is a dynamic event to execute. Hosting racers from 33 countries and moving nearly 1000 people over 8 days through 8 communities using community recreation centers and schools in each town, with 4 ferry crossings, nearly 140 land manager agreements and a crew of nearly 275. In other words, we have many things to consider to make this date change. Stay safe, stay healthy, stay kind. |
– Swatch Rocket Air will no longer take place in 2020 and will now be reorganized for 2021. Switzerland has a ban in place for gatherings of more than 100 people and the Flying Metal Crew are not confident this will be lifted by May 1/2, when the event is due to take place.
A statement reads: “The organizing Flying Metal Crew has decided to stop all preparations and postpone the event to 2021. The date is already set: April 30th to May 1st, 2021, should the event take place. “Even so, we will carry a deficit”, says OC president Jérôme Hunziker, “but one that we can likely manage with the help of our partners”.
The sponsors and partners were informed in advance and showed a lot of understanding. Not only do they want to help fill the financial gap, but many have already secured their commitment for 2021. Hunziker is optimistic: “We are very happy about the support, and this is motivation all the greater to hold the event next year and to infect the 10,000 spectators with the passion of bike virus.”
In the meantime, here is the final of 2019, 2 hours of finest slopestyle action, enjoy:
– Accell Group has scaled down its bicycle production by 70% due to the impacts of the Coronavirus. The first half of the year is the most important for Accell but it has now missed out on that due to sweeping lockdowns in Europe. The Group, that includes brands such as Lapierre, Ghost and Haibike, has announced its parts and accessories production will not be affected. The brand has also cancelled a €0.30 dividend proposal and drawn €50 million on its term loan, increasing it to €125 million. A statement read: “Given the exceptional circumstances, we are in close and constructive contact with our syndicate banks to keep them informed of the impact of the pandemic on our business and financial position. We also intend to make full use of the various government relief measures in all relevant countries.” More information can be found, here.
March 24
– The UCI announced more elite mtb racing changes as Fort William has been cancelled and Nove Mesto has been postponed. More, here.
– Japan and the IOC have confirmed a postponement of the 2020 Olympics. A new date is likely to be found before the end of July next year.
March 23
– In a phone interview with USA Today, the International Olympic Committee’s Dick Pound said that the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games will not be starting on July 24, 2020. They are going to be postponed, likely to 2021. The IOC says they will be working out the details in the next four weeks and announcing the next steps soon. More info here.
– Canada has withdrawn from the 2020 summer Olympics and is hoping for a new date in 2021. Australia and New Zealand have also indicated that they will follow suit. More info, here.
– 2 British ebike events, the UK Ebike Summit and the London e-Bike Festival, have both been postponed. The Ebike summit has a new date of September 8 but the e-Bike Festival is yet to announce a new date. More info can be found via Cycling Industry News, here.
March 21
– The iXS Downhill Cup have announced that the first round of the European DH Cup in Maribor has been postponed with a new date still to be decided. A statement reads:
“Based upon the current situation it is confirmed that the first iXS EDC will not take place in April. The local organizer of Maribor is trying to postpone the entire event and the following World Cup to a later date in 2020.”
“Unfortunately it‘s not easy, because many criteria have to be considered for a potential rescheduling and therefore we can not make any statements about a new date or a potential cancellation of the race. More information concerning the race calendar you can find at the website.”
Find out more about the state of the European DH Cup and the other iXS race series’ over on their website.
March 20
– The UCI announces elite racing cancellations up until mid-May. Read more, here.
– France has been the latest country to ban recreational cycling as part of its lockdown, following the example of Spain and Italy. The Ministry of Sport made the clarification today after a government decree yesterday said that exercise should be undertaken within 2km of the home and could only be for 30 minutes a day. The Ministry tweeted: “There is no question of getting away from your home. The rule is containment for everyone. Remember, you should only go out for emergencies like shopping or for your health. A little jogging is possible for your wellbeing, but not a 10km!” The French Cycling Federation later added: “The practice of sports cycling, which is commonly accepted, does not fall under the conditions provided for in the decree and therefore constitutes an offense. Any practice of cycling sport, even individual, must, therefore, be temporarily prohibited.”
March 19
– After originally being postponed until May 14-16, the Taipei Cycle Show has now been totally canceled for 2020. A statement reads:
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To comply with the government’s policy and to put people’s health as top priority, TAITRA, the show’s organizer, has made the difficult decision to cancel the May edition. To meet the industries’ needs, Taipei Cycle and TaiSPO will still offer online trade meetings & an online exhibition in May. Further details will be announced shortly.
Walter Yeh, the President and CEO of TAITRA said: “We respectfully apologize for the inconvenience incurred surrounding the cancellation of the 2020 TAIPEI CYCLE show. We have decided to put people’s concerns, health and well being ahead of the prosperity of the show and will return once we can guarantee the safe and inclusive environment we have always provided to the global cycling industry”. |
– Hutchinson has announced it will be closing its factory in Chalette-sur-Loing and postponing the launches of new tires this morning to help slow the spread of the outbreak. Hutchinson said:
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The health and safety of everyone is a top priority for Hutchinson, which is why we have taken extensive measures across the entire Hutchinson sites. The factory in Chalette-sur-Loing was closed this morning and the commercial activity will be stopped from next Monday, March 23rd, 2020. The industrial and commercial activities will, therefore, be paused until April, 6th 2020 with possible extension depending on Government announcements. No deliveries can be made until this date.
Only a few employees in the support functions will continue to carry out their missions working remote from home: the division director, the industrial director, the marketing manager, the communications manager. In the current context, we have also taken the decision to postpone the launches of our new XC/trail and gravel tyres. We also recommend that each cyclist take responsibility for slowing the spread of the virus by avoiding outdoor cycling, and more generally any risky activity, so as not to overburden hospital staff in the event of an accident. Not encouraging people to ride bikes, to have fun and share their passion is against our habits, but it is thanks to our union that we can overcome this epidemic. |
– The Riva Del Garda Bike Festival has been postponed until July 24-26
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Due to the fast changing situation with COVID-19, we unfortunately have to reschedule the FSA BIKE Festival in RIVA. Our top priority is the health and well-being of all the visitors, riders, staff, volunteers and partners. But we have good news – a new date has been found: get your red pen out and mark the 24th – 27th of July in your calendar and get ready to rejoin the crowd!
We are in permanent contact with the responsible authorities, and it is clear that the only way to contain the spread of the virus is by implementing given guidelines. Social distancing is currently the only responsible course of action. No final decision has been made concerning the other BIKE Festivals in 2020 – we will get back to you as soon as plans have been finalized. Thank you for your understanding. Stay healthy and see you on the flip side! |
March 18
– Ibis is based in Santa Cruz County and had this to say about how the Shelter in Place order is affecting their business.
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First, we are taking the COVID-19 Pandemic very seriously. In January, our CEO Hans Heim presciently began talking to us about the potential for the virus, and even wondered if it might affect Sea Otter.
In February, we instituted what some considered extreme cleaning protocols around our shop. Employees were told to stay home if they had any cold or flu symptoms, and that they’d be paid for their time off. As we monitored the spread of the virus we cancelled all non-essential staff travel. Yesterday (Monday, March 16th) we got the news that Santa Cruz County would be put under a ‘shelter-in-place’ Order. That means that you are supposed to hunker down at home and only venture out for essential services like groceries or doctor appointments. That also means that we needed to shut down operations at Ibis. The Order is effective immediately and will be in force until at least April 7th. We are fully supportive of this initiative and will abide by it. We think it’s the right move in the interest of not only our employees safey but of the public at large. Plus, if you get caught ignoring the Order, it’s considered a “menace to public health” a misdemeanor. No one wants to be a menace! We had taken precautionary measures in the weeks leading up to yesterday’s Order, and got our office staff setup on remote desktops so that they could keep working. We’re still able to take phone calls, write Orders and work with our factories. We are continuing all of our product development initiatives. This should help to minimize disruption, though it will still be considerable. The production workers who build, assemble, QC, pack and ship our bikes and products cannot come to work while the Order is in effect. Ibis has modified our paid time off policies to ensure that all employees including hourly workers receive full pay and benefits for the duration of the Order. |
-The Whiskey Off-Road Race has been cancelled as the City of Prescott, AZ has mandated the cancelation of all events in Prescott through May 10th, 2020. The organisers are now looking for an alternative date in early fall and all riders will automatically have their entries forwarded to that date. More details can be found, here.
March 17
– New Shelter in Place order hits Santa Cruz County meaning bike industry in the area such as Ibis, Santa Cruz, Fox, Ritchey, WTB, Marin, White Industries, Phil Wood, and Paragon Machine Works are in the closure zone as well as dozens of bike shops. Fox Suspension & Specialized Bicycles had this to say:
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As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are all experiencing impacts to our daily lives – some much more so than others. As the situation continues to evolve, we trust that respective government agencies are taking appropriate measures to curb the spread of the virus, and we are willingly and supportively in full compliance with these actions.
Fox Factory’s Scotts Valley office is located in an area affected by temporary “shelter in place” restrictions, our team members based in this location (myself included) are currently working safely from home until all restrictions are lifted. At this time, none of the restrictions are affecting our distribution centers, all of which are still fully operational. We will continue operations in all of our distribution centers as long as the situation remains stable and as long as none of our valued team members in these locations are determined to be at any risk. Should any additional restrictions come into place or should the situation change for any other reason, we will provide you with an update. Our deepest condolences to those who have been directly affected by COVID-19. Please stay safe out there. |
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As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, we’re taking additional measures to protect our employees, retailers, and riders. The health and safety of the global community is our top priority, and therefore, we have made the decision to take swift action to reduce the impact of the virus. ⠀
We ask all Specialized Riders to help stop the spread of this virus by respecting any riding and travel restrictions in your region, avoid riding in groups, and to think seriously about the impact a crash could have on strained medical resources in your area.⠀ |
– British Cycling has announced it is suspending all events until April 30 at the earliest. The Fort William World Cup is scheduled for June 6/7 so it isn’t yet affected but it could be if the outbreak continues to worsen in the UK. It has, however, led to cancellation of Round 1 of the British National Downhill Series, an alternate date is being sought.
British Cycling chief executive Julie Harrington said: “This was not a decision taken lightly and it is one we have taken in close cooperation with our colleagues at Scottish Cycling and Welsh Cycling. We fully understand and appreciate the financial, social and community impact that this suspension could have, and we are working now to ensure that cycling is in the best possible health once the suspension can be lifted. As I’m sure everyone can appreciate, these are truly unprecedented circumstances, and while we will be doing all we can to retain a sense of normality and continuity, it may take some time to return to full capacity as an organisation and as a sport once this situation has been resolved. We will continue to update our members with more information, and will be doing everything within our power to support those who have contributed to the rich cycling culture that this country boasts.” More information can be found here.
– Japan is still planning for a full Olympics to go ahead despite the Coronavirus outbreak. On Saturday, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said, “We will overcome the spread of the infection and host the Olympics without problem, as planned”. This was echoed today by the Olympics Minister, Seiko Hashimoto, who said, “A complete Olympics is what we are aiming for. We will do our utmost to prepare [to hold the Olympics] as scheduled so that the International Olympic Committee will be convinced we are capable of hosting the game.”
The decision will ultimately be left to the IOC though, who are meeting today to discuss the future of the games.
– In response to the global CV-19 outbreak, TweedLove organisers Hillside Outside have announced a huge rescheduling of their 2020 events calendar. Many of the Peebles-based organisers’ biggest events, including this weekend’s MTB enduro race Vallelujah, which is also Round One of the British National Enduro Series, will now be held later this year. Other events affected include the TweedLove Bike Festival weekend, Bosch E-MTB Challenge, Glentress Seven endurance race, Gritopia off-road adventure, Skinny Tweed road sportive, TweedLove Family Day and more.
Riders who can’t attend on the new dates are being offered a 100% refund on all the events but as a TweedLove spokesperson says, “Obviously we’d rather people didn’t cancel – everyone knows bike events are a marginal business activity at the best of times but for now it’s going to be a grim fight for survival. The events industry is being hit very hard and it looks extremely unlikely that insurance will cover any loss of income from this.” More info here.
March 16
– Despite the many memes circulating that the best self-isolation is a good bike ride in the woods, reports are emerging of cyclists being stopped by the police in Italy and Spain and being threatened with fines or even jail time. Both countries are the worst affected in Europe and currently on a 2-week lockdown period with only journeys for food or medical supplies allowed. Reports from road cycling websites indicate fines can be anywhere from 600-1000 Euros, while Spanish newspaper, El Pais (English link), suggests a more conservative €100 fine could be issued but with up to a year in jail for ignored requests.
– The entirety of the Canadian Enduro Series has been cancelled with the exception of the Sea Otter Canada Enduro at Blue Mountain Ontario. The organizers have said that some of the events may be reinstated if the situation normalizes but for now all registered riders are being refunded for every event. More info can be found here.
– Scotland is starting to see local races affected after its government banned mass gatherings for four months. The opening round of the Scottish Downhill Association is cancelled and Tweedlove Vallelujah/British Enduro Series Round 1 has been postponed until August 15/16.
More info on the SDA can be found here and the Vallelujah here.
March 15
– The UCI has today announced a series of updated measures to combat the serious threat of COVID-19. The updated list of guidelines from the cycling governing body includes; event cancellation requests, suspension of classifications and the closure of Olympics qualification. Find out more here.
March 14
– USA Cycling has announced that it is recommending the cancellation of all sanctioned events citing “the latest data on COVID-19’s spread and the healthcare system’s ability to manage this crisis”. Currently, they are suspending all permits until 5 April although they are continuing to monitor the situation.
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Due to the latest data on COVID-19’s spread and the healthcare system’s ability to manage this crisis, USA Cycling is recommending cancellation of all sanctioned events immediately and calling on all race and event directors, clubs, coaches, athletes, and members to postpone or cancel all scheduled races and events immediately. This includes any gatherings such as group rides, in-person group meetings, etc.
We are suspending permits on all events through April 5th. USA Cycling will continue to monitor and meet with partners to assess the state of this national emergency and its impact on the cycling community. We are taking measures within our control and asking everyone involved in this sport to protect our community so we can get back to riding and racing with everyone in good health as soon as possible. |
– It has been announced today that the iXS Dirt Masters festival has been moved to September after recent developments in the spread of the COVID-19 virus and the travel restrictions that have been put in place by some countries. The organisers will be providing exact details in the coming weeks but read the latest statements below:
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The first months of the year is dominated by the spread of the new coronavirus 2019 from its point of origin in Wuhan, China, to more and more cities and countries around the globe. Concern for public health has prompted the Ministry of Health of North Rhine-Westphalia to rethink, postpone or even cancel large meetings of all kinds, from professional sporting events and concerts to schools and university courses. We experience how the global health crisis is rewriting the calendar of events for 2020.
Coronavirus and major events – the whole thing is a clear matter in other countries: Italy, France and Switzerland have cancelled everything in principle. In Germany, however, the issue remains an enormous challenge for local authorities. This is precisely why we have been in intensive and constant contact with all partners over the past weeks and days. The current developments regarding Corona (SARS-CoV-2) and the related preventive measures and travel restrictions unfortunately force us to postpone the iXS Dirt Masters Festival 2020 in Winterberg to September this year. Why? The athletes and visitors include many people who come from abroad, many of them also from the much more affected regions from all over the world. Some of these people cannot and are currently not allowed to travel from their countries of origin. As the organiser of the largest Gravity Mountain Bike Festival, we also have a duty of care towards the visitors, athletes and exhibitors, and of course towards our own staff and everyone affected by the festival. The current situation around the corona virus and the decree of the Ministry of Health of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, not only the Dirt Masters, to postpone this one time the most popular Gravity Mountain Bike Festival in Europe to a later date. The Bikepark Winterberg and we very much regret this postponement. We are more than aware that this requires a lot of understanding from the athletes and spectators. This decision was not easy, but the risk is not acceptable for all parties involved at the moment. |
March 13
– The Port Angeles National NW Cup is the next event to be postponed because of COVID-19 after it was announced that they are postponing the race that was due to take place in April.
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We are super bummed to say this, but we are out of options. The April 10-12 race is going to be postponed for obvious reasons, not the least of which is that the DNR has (wisely) decided to cancel all events thru April. We will have more details in the coming days/weeks.
We are currently out of town supporting another race series, but will be back next week (if they let us back in?) to start sorting out all the details. Thank you for your continued support. |
– After the first round of the Downhill World Cup was postponed earlier this week the organisers for the Fort William round have released a statement saying that currently there are no plans to postpone or cancel the event on 6 – 7 June. Read the full statement below:
– The 2020 Cape Epic has been cancelled. Event organizers issued the following statement: “Out of concern for the health and safety of our riders and other stakeholders, following recent advice received from the Western Cape Government, we have no choice but to cancel the 2020 Absa Cape Epic due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.
Mediclinic, the event’s medical partner since inception and which provides services to many Western Cape events, supports the decision. The decision also has the full support of most of our sponsors, including our headline sponsor, Absa.
The event was due to start on Sunday March 15 on Table Mountain and end on March 22 in Paarl after travelling to Ceres, Tulbagh and Wellington.
Race founder Kevin Vermaak said: ‘I have taken this step with a heavy heart, but the health and safety of everybody involved in the event has to be paramount. ‘At 6pm today we received the formal advice from government.’ Kevin appealed for patience from all stakeholders, who will be contacted directly regarding the way forward.”
March 12
– The London Bike Show is postponed until 3-5July. Organisers said: “We have been following UK government guidelines and working with the rolling advice from the public health authorities and other organisations, but it is now with reluctance that we have taken the decision to postpone the event at this time. The safety and wellbeing of our staff, exhibitors, visitors, partners and contractors is of the utmost importance to us, and therefore feel the protection and prevention of harm to the public has been paramount to this decision.”
– Garmin Titan Desert postponed until 2- 7 November.
March 11
– After the Colombian President, Ivan Duque, announced on Twitter that visitors from Italy, France and other affected countries would have to go into self-isolation upon arriving in the country, rounds 1 and 2 of the EWS were also postponed. Round 1 in Colombia will now take place on 7-8 November, while round 2 in Chile will now take place on 14-15 November. Round 3, due to take place at France’s Montagnes du Caroux on May 23, is still scheduled to go ahead.
March 10
– The first big casualty of the race season is the Lousa World Cup. After a letter was published by the Portuguese Ministry of Health, establishing that outdoor events with over 5,000 in attendance would have to be canceled by early April. A new date is yet to be set for the rescheduling of the event but it will apparently be decided in a series of meetings next week (w/c16 March).
– MMR Factory Race Team announced they were pulling out of the Cape Epic. Team manager, Angel Gomez, said: “It wasn’t an easy decision to take, but we are sure that we have made the correct one. Cycling is a super mobile sport where our riders and staff are exposed to the risk in a long travel like this, and teams are putting the riders and staff at risk of transmission and quarantine.” The Cape Epic is still scheduled to go ahead and begins on Sunday 15 March.
– Marlene Südtirol Sunshine Race postponed, new date tbc.
March 9
– Bentonville Bike Fest postponed until August 7-9. Kenny Belaey, event organizer, said: “We appreciate the continued support from our partners, sponsors and the community. Although the dates have changed, we are still on track and moving forward with our scheduled plans. It also allows us to maintain our partnership with the Bentonville Film Festival.”
March 7
– Toquato Testa misses the Crankworx Rotorua slopestyle competition after being asked to self-isolate.
March 6
– Britain’s Bespoked Show is pushed back from May 3-5 to 15-18 October.
March 5
– There’s another big blow as the second big show of the spring gets postponed. Sea Otter cancelled its April date, on March 5 and than announced the new date of October 1-4 a few days later.
– The Mountain Bike Eliminator World Cup #1 gets postponed. The inaugural Dubai event is still to set a new date.
March 4
– The UCI announces Coronavirus guidelines, saying it will “not proceed with the cancellation of any events at this stage”. It added, “Any possible decision to cancel will be taken by the health authorities in the concerned regions depending on the evolution of the local situation and different risk factors identified. The organisers and all members of the cycling family will be obliged to comply to any such decision.”
March 3
– The first North American event is affected as the NAHBS Show postponed until August.
– The Mountain Mayhem race was forced to cancel as, “it is no longer possible to get any cancellation insurance from any company.”
March 2
– The Andorra Race Cup was suspended due to Prime Ministerial decree. The Province of Savona had been designated a “Yellow Zone”, which led to the suspension of all sporting events and shows in the indicated areas until Sunday March 8th, 2020. The event is yet to be rescheduled.
February 11
– The first major casualty of the Coronavirus, the Taipei Cycle Show, is postponed until May.
February 3
– The Taipei Cycle Show announces it will not allow Chinese visitors or exhibitors into the show but it is hoping to go ahead with planned.
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