2020 UCI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS UPDATE

“It is important to note that the competition programme of the UCI World Championships has been adapted to take into account the current global health situation in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic: only races (road and time trial) in the Elite categories will be held this year.

”The majority of the best athletes in the Men’s and Women’s Elite categories are already in Europe, unlike their young counterparts (Juniors and Under 23), a significant proportion of which will not be able to travel to Italy due to travel restrictions affecting many countries around the world. For this reason, and in order not to deprive the vast majority of young athletes of the opportunity to compete, we have limited the programme to the Elite categories.” said David Lappartient, President of the UCI.

UCI Road World Championships: 24 – 27 September 2020 | Imola, ITA Elite category only

UCI Mountain Bike World Championships: 7 – 11 October 2020 | Leogang, AUT All categories

UCI Marathon World Championships: 24 – 25 October | Sakarya, TUR Elite category only

Current legislation as gazetted by government does not permit South Africans to travel internationally for leisure purposes, or for participation in international sporting competitions. However, permission has now been granted by the Department of Sport, Art and Culture to allow athletes currently abroad to participate in the UCI World Championships, under the following conditions:

1. No national team may be selected, but permission for an individual entry into the championships is granted by the government to those athletes who are currently abroad, with the necessary work or residence permits in place.

• It should be noted that countries in Europe have different entry requirements, even from neighbouring Schengen countries and athletes requesting to be entered should ensure that they adhere to the COVID19 Risk Mitigation requirements of each hosting nation’s government.

2. CyclingSA shall facilitate entry into these competitions upon request by the individual athletes.

3.  As no National Team selection may take place, CyclingSA’s selector panels for both Road and MTB have agreed that the criteria for application for individual entry shall be as follows:

• Riders based abroad who are classified on the UCI World Ranking of the disciplines may request to be entered.

• The World Rankings in reference will be that as of 1 September 2020.

• National Champions requesting participation shall be allowed first entry.

• If the entry quota as allocated by the UCI is reached, CyclingSA will enter riders who are ranked highest as per the UCI World Rankings.

4. Athletes will compete in South African team clothing as per the UCI requirements, but no national colours will be awarded for the 2020 UCI World Championship participation.

5. All participation will be self-supported and self-financed, and athletes will be solely reliant on their UCI teams to ensure the UCI COVID19 Risk Mitigation medical testing procedures and quarantine/isolation requirements are adhered to.

6. CyclingSA strongly recommends all riders undertake their own personal risk assessment of the situation, and ensure they have support measures and plans in place should they find themselves in a changed circumstance.

“Keeping in mind that we are in the midst of a global pandemic, we appreciate the position that the UCI is in. This is far from an ideal situation for CyclingSA as we are not permitted to select a national team to compete in this year’s championships, but rather facilitate the entries of athletes who are currently abroad. We have to adapt as best we can to the situation and circumstances.” said Ciska Austin, President of CyclingSA.

Riders wishing to be considered for entry to please email Dellah Paul by 7 September 2020 for UCI Road World Championships and by 21 September for the UCI Mountain Bike and UCI Marathon World Championships: dellah@cyclingsa.com