The National Cycling Championship is set to resume in August and October, chairman of the Racing Committee of the T&T Cycling Federation (TTCF), Gregory Dandrade said yesterday.
However, it will depend on the updates given by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and his team of Minister of Health Terrance Deyalsingh and Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Roshan Parasram this week, on whether the country is in a state of readiness to kick into the third phase of the COVID-19 recovery drive highlighted by the Prime Minister.
Last week, Dr Rowley and his team, satisfied with the fact that the country was able to contain the spread of the coronavirus which has already killed hundreds of thousands of people worldwide, called for the opening of the manufacturing sector which saw many businesses and workers return to work, Thursday.
Dandrade, who was the host of a crucial racing committee meeting on Saturday at his Arima home, said it was agreed that cycling will return with the National Championships which was stopped due to the outbreak in March.
"Once we get the go-ahead, we will continue with the National Championship for Juniors, Juveniles, Tinymites and Masters' riders, since they were able to complete events for the seniors," Dandrade said.
This event will pedal off in October as it was agreed to allow the riders the chance and opportunity to prepare for the event, having been out of competitive cycling for so long.
Dandrade, who recently got the nod of the cycling executives to replace Joseph Roberts, the cycling federation's new president, as the racing chairman, also said a tentative date in August will be used to stage the National Road Race events. Dates for both events will be revealed soon.
The federation will also continue to find a way to host Virtual Cycling here in T&T, a new initiative of president Joseph Roberts. The local cycling boss assured the new event (virtual Cycling) will be put on the local cycling calendar, saying the public will be informed when they are going to launch the event. Apart from Virtual Cycling, there is also a consideration for the Kilometre Time Trial event which is considered one of the few events where social distancing can be adhered to.
Meanwhile, T&T's Olympic qualifying riders Kwesi Browne, Nicholas Paul and Teneil Campbell will be put into a UCI training camp to prepare for the Games which will now take place in July next year. Dandrade said the riders will be given sufficient time to prepare and be ready for the Olympics.