Canadian Cyclist

 

June 30/20 17:53 pm - Cycling Canada Announces Restrictions on National Team Competition & International Events for 2020


Posted by Editor on 06/30/20
 

Cycling Canada, the national federation, has announced significant restrictions on national team activities for the rest of 2020. While the UCI has scheduled a start to the season for Road in August and Mountain Bike in September, there is still considerable uncertainty on whether these schedules will take place as planned, with ongoing COVID-19  outbreaks happening around the world (and the potential of a second wave outbreak). In addition, issues of quarantine, health insurance, etc., make it very difficult to plan any projects.

The decision to restrict overseas projects is partially affected by the consideration that virtually no Olympic qualification events will take place in the remainder of 2020 (with the possible exception of BMX Worlds), and that Sport Canada will not look at international results after March 3rd of this year for athlete carding decisions. Cycling Canada will not include any 2020 results after this date will be included in Olympic or Paralympic selection.

Cycling Canada has therefore made the following decisions:

• Cycling Canada will not be conducting any national team projects outside Canada before January 1, 2021.

• The sole exceptions may be Elite and U23 World Championships (see below). A decision on Worlds participation will be taken around July 15th.

• A decision on projects after January 1, 2021, will be taken in September, or once additional information becomes available.

• For the remainder of 2020, resumption of National Team programming will be phased as follows:

* Phase 1 (underway) - Athletes following training plans at home while respecting local public health guidelines.

* Phase 2 (partly underway) - Organized training resuming for programs based at national team facilities (eg. track and BMX) under strict return-to-training guidelines developed in partnership with the facilities and Canadian Sport Institutes.

* Phase 3 (partly underway) - Organized training camps within Canada.

* Phase 4 (pending) - Competitions within Canada, with no obligation to attend Canadian championships.

• Given the range of directives from local health authorities and the varying requirements and objectives for each program, these plans will be developed for each program and monitored/adjusted as conditions evolve.

• No aspect of National Team programming will be mandatory for the balance of 2020. This position takes precedence over any other policies or agreements in place.

• Cycling Canada typically requires athletes to compete in Canadian championships in order to maintain their eligibility for national team selection and for carding. The organization hopes to run some Canadian championships this year, but in order to avoid pressuring people to travel the requirement for athletes to attend these events will be waived for 2020.

Worlds Participation

Cycling Canada may enter Elite and U23 athletes in the following World Championships if conditions permit:

• 2020 UCI Road World Championships (Aigle-Martigny, Switzerland, September 20-27)

• 2020 UCI XCO and DHI Mountain Bike World Championships (Leogang, Austria, October 5-11)

Cycling Canada will only enter athletes who are already in Europe as part of their competition program with UCI-registered teams, and this will only be done if it is possible for staff to safely travel from Canada, or for Europe-based personnel to staff the events on behalf of Cycling Canada.

Under no circumstances will Cycling Canada enter Juniors in the road or mountain bike world championships.

For the 2020 UCI BMX World Championships (Houston, USA, dates TBA), Cycling Canada will assess the situation when more information becomes available.

 

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