ICF MTB News

By Peter Purfield ICF MTB 27th March 2001 

Foot & Mouth Situation: While we have Foot and Mouth Disease within Europe, the ICF cannot make any announcements as to what MTB events can take place. We wait for direction from the Department of Agriculture as to what movements of people is allowed. At the moment with one case in Louth on March 22, a ban is in force stopping anybody going off-road by foot or on bike. 

If there are no more outbreaks, there may be some relaxation of the restrictions in the next few weeks. One more case and the situation can change overnight. 

WE must play our part and ensure none of us do anything that could help the spread of this disease. I would ask all Mountain Bikers to follow these guidelines: 

• Do Not Go Off-Road 

• Do Not Go MTB racing/riding in the UK or other infected countries 

• Do not invite riders to Ireland from infected countries 

• Don’t visit the countryside 

• Don’t travel from farm to farm 

• Avoid gatherings of people ie. Sports, agri - off road events, 

• Do not enter farmland without the permission of the farm owner 

• Check for information updates on the Irish Government Website: http://www.irlgov.ie/daff/AreasofI/FMD/default.HTM 

MTB Calendar: Because of the uncertainty, events may not take place until later in the year and venues could change. Riders should check with event organisers before traveling to events. With the outbreak in Ravensdale Co. Louth this area could be banned for six months or more. This will affect to first few events of the season and could have consequences for the Downhill championships. Information when it comes available will be posted on this site.

Advise for MTB Racers: 

• Train on the Road, even on your mountain bike to keep your fitness levels up. 

• If you have a Road bike – take up road racing in the interim. 

• As regards International Competition – Plans for Irish Teams going to RAV4’s in the UK are cancelled; and until the Foot & Mouth situation stabilizes in Europe there is uncertainty in traveling there. That leaves the World Championships in Vail USA in September as the final opportunity for overseas competition and even then that’s providing that the USA will let participants compete from F&M infected countries.

Changes to Irish Championship Categories: The federation received a motion from the Mountainbiking Association of Dublin at our recent AGM to change the senior championship categories to those used by the UCI. At a subsequent meeting the ICF Board accepted the amendments. The new categories are Cross Country: Elite and Under 23, Downhill: Elite. There will be No Sports Championship in XC or DH and No Expert Championship in XC. Event organisers are also informed that a Sports race can take place during the championships events but it will not have championship status. This sports race can accommodate day licence holders who previously were excluded from racing during the championship events. 

Bray Downhill: The fabulous Bray Downhill success is largely due to the hard work of Peter Popham and Gerry Dawson and the support of the Bray Council. They have created a gem of an event with enormous potential. The event, which is run down the side of the Bray Head finishing on the Seafront, has all the ingredients to for a super event. This year they have applied to have the event put on the UCI calendar as an E2 event. The event is scheduled to take place on the 7th July. 

MTB Managers: The ICF is currently restructuring its management of international competition and has set up a High Performance Group. Within the new HPG, Team Managers were appointed for MTB Cross Country, MTB Downhill, Senior Road, Junior Road and Ladies Road. The MTB Appointments are: Cross Country: Peter Purfield (01) 8375096 Downhill: Eamonn Lawlor (041) 9835559