The Oceania Cycling Confederation (OCC) advises due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and the most recent advice from the Australian Government, State Governments and the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the 2020 Oceania Road Championships, scheduled for Brisbane, 5-6 April as part of the Tour de Brisbane will be postponed. This follows confirmation last Friday that the 2020 Oceania BMX Championships, scheduled for 25 March in Tasmania would also be postponed.

The Australian Government’s statement restricting non-essential gatherings of more than 500 people means the Championships’ needed to be postponed to protect public safety.

Overnight the UCI announced decisive measures to protect the health and safety of all those involved in cycling events including requiring the cancellation of UCI events in high risk areas, suspension of classifications for all events of the UCI International calendar, and recommending to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Paralympic Committee (IPC) that the Tokyo 2020 qualification period is stopped retroactively as of 3 March 2020 for disciplines still ongoing. The full statement can be read on the UCI website.

The 2020 Oceania BMX Championships were scheduled within the Olympic qualification period, however the UCI’s statement on a retroactive end to the qualification period ensures sporting equity when it comes to the awarding of Olympic quotas in light of the necessary cancellation or postponement of UCI events around the world.

Further information regarding the rescheduling of the 2020 Oceania BMX Championships will be provided as soon as possible. Meanwhile, all entry fees for the 2020 Oceania BMX Championships will be refunded over the next two weeks.

The Tour de Brisbane incorporating the 2020 Oceania Road Championships is on hold as the OCC works to confirm a postponement date with the State Government, Local Government, Cycling Australia, the UCI, NXsports and the Brisbane Cycling Festival. While this consultation is progressing, participant entries for all Tour de Brisbane events including the 2020 Oceania Road Championships will remain on hold.

OCC President Tracey Gaudry stated: “The OCC’s priority is the health and safety of all Championship participants – organisers, athletes, coaches, support staff, officials, partners and suppliers, volunteers and the public. We thank all cycling stakeholders for their patience, resilience and solidarity during these difficult times.”