No Tour Divide group start for 2020

Update from The Japanese Odyssey

North Cape 4000 cancelled

TransAtlantic Way to make final decision on April 15th

Badlands postponed

The Racing Collective cancels TransEngland

TransAtlantic Way statement

Pan Celtic Race postponed indefinitely

Dales Divide postponed/cancelled

RATN in jeopardy

David Chirnside (who commentated last year's race for us) has just posted on the Tour Divide Facebook group confirming there will be no group start for this year's race.

> The Official confirmed Banff NP will be observing a rigid 15-person max group size rule in the park for the remainder of the summer. This means no group TD start (obviously).

There is also some choice wording around riders wishing to ITT the route.

Read the full statement [here](https://www.facebook.com/groups/tourdivide/permalink/1123249248009171/).

You will no doubt have heard about the inevitable postponement of the Olympic Games this year which in turn perhaps posed the question about this year's [Japanese Odyssey](https://www.japanese-odyssey.com/).

Emmanuel from TJO got in touch to let us know what the current status of this year's event is (edited for clarity):

>The event is supposed to start on Sept 30th, but with the escalating spread of COVID-19 and the restrictions put in place by almost all governments, it is impossible to say if TJO 2020 will take place as planned at the end of September.
>
>The priority in our minds is the health and safety of the entrants coming to ride the event. But we also have a responsibility to the Japanese people's efforts to challenge this situation as entrants of The Japanese Odyssey are coming from around the world.
>
>The event should take place in 6 months, which leaves us with a bit of time before taking a final decision. All we know is that the event won't be postponed later in the year as some passes might be closed by late Oct-early Nov in the Japanese Alps region. __So it is departure on Sept-30, and if not the 2020 edition will be cancelled.__
>

![NC4000 covid](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4WkcGMKfjmwpKxzPMve9hh/f44d559684d9e3a9d88fa2d4bb496d67/Screenshot_2020-04-01_at_09.24.51.png)

Originally slated for July 27th, the NC4000 is now cancelled and the next edition will run in 2021.

September looks like it'll be a busy month on the calendar at this rate!

![TAW COVID 2](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5dg873spu2Bk2NgulgkKUe/6ed22870b6f2efeadb5bda9dca675002/Screenshot_2020-03-31_at_08.42.27.png)

David and Carlos, the team behind the Transibérica series of races, wrote to riders last night about the postponement of Badlands. With this announcement, there are no ultra-distance events in May.

![Badlands COVID](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3yTlzIZm9nXet4ZONaa17T/245325b97c7f555b7a21dc2519da22b9/Screenshot_2020-03-31_at_08.39.31.png)

![RATN Covid](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4oSiYxMt7sljdLrda8kCAz/2a34861251350ed2c71b6c462a26bc64/Screenshot_2020-03-27_at_09.15.56.png)

With this announcement, it leaves just Badlands the only race in May that has said it hopes to continue...

![Badland COVID](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6kaCyVCgvQggOVAqkZjqWD/6c80341d0d3ce7f00ad6fde5436aaa47/Screenshot_2020-03-27_at_09.27.23.png)

RATN postponed until August // Badlands update

In a very thought-provoking instagram post the team behind races like GBDURO has drawn parallels between COVID-19 and climate change, the latter being an important pillar in their mission.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-Hk_KqlUfr/?igshid=1343gepkei9n0

Adrian O'Sullivan took to his race's Facebook group to communicate his position on cancellation or postponement (edited for clarity):

>Everyone deals with situations differently. Any event that’s already cancelled I’m sure have for their own and others good reason taken into account and I support that. As the organiser of the TransAtlantic way __I am trying to hang on to a June 4th start day. If in the coming weeks this is not possible I’m looking towards a September start date if allowed.__
I feel very strongly a need to leave a light on in the darkness for those that need it. And a responsibility that when the travel ban is lifted to bounce the economy as quickly as possible. I’m sure everyone is on hold at the moment in every aspect of their lives. Me included. To cancel believe you me would be the easiest option for me at the moment. And if we are allowed to ride when the time arises and just 5 riders turn up we ride.
>
>Please follow what ever countries guidelines you are in. Stay positive in all actions and thoughts. And if you feel the need, completely self isolate for up to 6 weeks. Peace and love. 💪👊😍

The wonderful team at Pan Celtic Race have postponed their race to such a time that it is safe to rerun it.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-AsPjLlAe9/

They've also urged anyone who is finding these times difficult to reach out to them no matter if they have ridden, expressed interest or simply watched the dots. 

Chris Ellison, organiser of the Dales Divide, sent his riders the following email:

>This is an email I hoped I would never need to send, however it is clear that events are overwhelming not just us in the Dales, but the whole of the UK and the world beyond.  It makes me very sad to say, but the __Dales Divide 2020 cannot go ahead at Easter this year.__
>
>This decision is both to protect riders, to protect the communities that we would travel through, to keep bikepacking within the spirit of the law and prevent any possibility of negative impacts for years to come.
>
>For the future then, there will be a Dales Divide 2021 but that is a long time away.  __We have not yet chosen what to do for DD2020, whether a postponement is practical or even possible.__  Of course as long as the UK allows it, and if it becomes safe to do so, it would be good to see some people ride the route ITT just to see how they go on.

He is considering dates for the 2020 edition though no firm arrangement has been made. Riders are encouraged to send him their thoughts or otherwise ride the route as an ITT when it is safe and practicable to do so.

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