Virtual Cycling will be used for the T&T Cycling Federation's Kilometer Time Trial on July 10, 11 and 12 and the venue is the Indoor Cycle Works, 51 Mucurapo Rd, Port-of-Spain (Inside Rafmon Marketing compound) from 10 am to 5 pm.
The event, a customary cycling event used in countries worldwide, will be used as a test trial next month, and the response will guide cycling federation officials on how they will move forward in the future. The sport had grinded to a halt in March, along with all other sports, due to the COVID19 coronavirus pandemic which has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives across the globe.
However, cycling federation officials have sought to introduce the virtual cycling event to the twin-island Republic, with president Joseph Roberts saying the event was to be tried here a couple of years ago by the Sport Company of T&T, but it never got going.
The new chairman of the Racing Committee of the TTCF Gregory Dandrade said the event will also be used as a means of pumping funds into the coffers of the cycling federation, as well as draw many potential cyclists to the sport.
Registration for the event began yesterday and just over 40 riders will complete the first line-up. The course for the event will be ZWIFT’s Richmond’s “The Fan Flats” which will allow riders to complete approximately four laps at an estimated time 30 minutes for a 20KM time trial.
Dandrade explained that a registration fee of $100 will be charged per rider. "Monies from the registration will be split equally between the cycling federation and the gym 50-50 since the gym will be providing all the equipment needed for the event. They have five speed-bikes, which will allow the riders to participate in half-hour sessions, so the rider with the fastest time and speed will be determined the winner of the time trial," Dandrade told Guardian Media Sports yesterday morning.
Virtual cycling is a simulation of a cycling race done in the comfort of your own home, or an indoor facility. Participants attempt to follow a course on a screen in front of them. The idea of the event is to have cyclists, from the comfort of their own homes, on home trainers ideally or their spin bikes, following a course from a monitor in front of them.
Meanwhile, the National Road Race Championship will be held in August, while the completion of the National Track Cycling championship will take place later in November. The track championship had to be stopped prematurely because of the coronavirus, as only events for senior riders were possible.
The event in November will be held for Juvenile, Tinymites and Masters riders.