Virtual cycling, a simulation of a cycling race done in the comfort of your own home or in an indoor facility, will soon be held right here in T&T, courtesy the T&T Cycling Federation (TTCF).
The event is one of a few initiatives of the cycling federation that will be discussed at a racing committee meeting next week, president Joseph Roberts has said.
The local cycling boss told Guardian Media Sports on Friday that virtual cycling is being done all over the world, particularly in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 situation.
The idea of the event is to have cyclists, from the comfort of their own homes, on home trainers ideally or on spin bikes, following a course from a monitor in front of them. It is understood the event was expected here last year to generate commercial revenue from the Sports Company of T&T.
But with the COVID-19 pandemic recently the idea of virtual cycling has moved into full gear at countries across the world. Only last week, T&T first women's Olympic cyclist Teneil Campbell competed at a virtual cycling event and finished third.
Roberts, who is in his first year as president of the TTCF, said the time has come to bring the event to local shores. Apart from virtual cycling, the racing committee which will be headed by new chairman Gregory Dandrade will also have a few other proposals to decide on, such as if the Time Trials can be held under the strict social distancing rules.
"I believe we can adhere to the social distancing instructions with the time trials but a decision will be made next week," Roberts said.
The committee will also decide whether more than one event can be held at different venues on a given day when the government and the health officials give the go-ahead to resume sporting action.
Roberts said the priority of his federation is to honour the guidelines of social distancing, and having not more than five people at a time at events when they resume.
He also assured that his federation has been able to get some things done for the betterment of the sport, despite the lockdown period.
“We were able to deal with the administrative side of the sport by reviewing the constitution, as well as looking at the policies on finance and discipline from an administrative standpoint. We also looked at how do we conduct events in the midst of the COVID-19 situation. We hope to be guided by the government and the health officials," Roberts said.