now that covid 19 restrictions are being lifted in the uk – we have updated our risk assessment – taking our guidance from british cycling while taking our responsibilities to you our guest, our team and members of the wider community extremely seriously.

we have worked hard to re arrange our normal sportives to a different format so all involved are as safe from infection as possible

and are now working to the latest advice from british cycling –

we have run 2 x very safe and successful sportives this season – and look forward to organising many more

this is a work in progress – but our covid 19 risk assessment is as follows – this will be amended as we progress –

top dog events – covid 19 risk assessment – reviewed by – chris packman – on – 8 may 2021

*the hazard / risk is that event participants / event helpers / general public risk becoming seriously ill due to the transmission of the covid 19 virus during our cycling events or the event needs to be cancelled due to local outbreaks / restrictions*

pre ride

hazard

participants being in close contact with other riders and event helpers @ registration area

control measures

have online entries only
close online entry 1 x week before event
post 1 x event rider number to each participant along with an arrival time and a start time 15 minutes later – so no standing in line to register at a desk to receive an event number pre ride on event day
start riders in groups of up to 10 (guidelines say up to 15 x riders – but we feel this is too many for our local roads – and will try to set riders off in groups of 8 / 10) every 2 x minutes (guidelines say 45 x seconds)over 90 minutes
no on the day entries / cash handling or registration area

hazard

having a large number of cyclists and event support vehicles on remote roads and passing through villages / communities

control measures

we no longer have a “short” 30-mile route option on our sportives
we focus all event support and resources on 1 x “long” event
have a limit of 600 x participants per event
give each entrant both an arrival and a starting time
avoid riders stopping in any built-up area the event passes through

hazard

having to cancel an event at short notice due to a local or national covid 19 outbreak or lock down

control measures

s i entries will keep all entry fees paid until the week after each event (looked into event cancellation insurance but none cover covid issues !!)
in the event of a forced cancellation – all entrants will be offered –
a transferred entry into the same event in 2022
a transferred entry into another of our events in 2021
a full refund of their entry fee (s) minus s i entries admin fee of 3%

hazard

event attracting riders from different areas – some of whom may have the disease

control measures

encourage anyone – rider – supporters – event helpers to stay away if they feel unwell, are self isolating or have a recent positive covid test result

hazard

having to trace event participants if there is a covid outbreak among riders or in the area

control measures

we have full contact details of every single participant who enters online – with the details stored on s i entries event database
we will pass these details on to any relevant health or track and trace authorities should they demand it

event car parking

hazard

participants mixing with 3-1-5 health club members and other riders

control measures

avoid the inside of 3-1-5 health club all together apart from the toilets inside the main entrance
issue every rider with a time to arrive at the car park – 15 minutes before their start time
park vehicles in every available space – as directed by 1 x helper
all riders will get changed on car park – put number on bikes ect and head down to start area ready to go

starting area

hazards

riders congregating close to each other and event helpers

control measures

have hq tent and desk in the start area
have no rider registration desks
have no entries on the day
display “stay 1 x metre apart” signs in start area
limit riders waiting to start to 20 x pax (2 x waves of up to 10 riders) – use cones and tape to mark 2 x lines of up to 10 x riders – 2 metres + apart (or have only the group about to depart in front of the new floodgate – and the next group waiting on the road side of the floodgate until called forward)

hazard

having large groups of riders on roads and built up areas

control measures

have 45 x starting time slots over 90 minutes
start riders in groups of up to 10 – every 2 x minutes
maximum no of riders = 45 x 10 = 450 ( guidelines allow for 600 x riders)
start quickest riders first followed by gradually slower riders – to prevent / reduce bunching or overtaking en route
record every riders event number and start time as they set off (check these off against entry list once event underway)

hazard

protecting event helpers

control measures

issue all helpers with gloves / face mask / hand sanitiser
brief all helpers on the layout / operation of the start area and procedure

feed station

hazard

having many riders together @ feed station

control measures

have 1 x feed station @ midway point – away from built up areas – on 60+ / 80 mile events – 2 x feed stations on 100 + events
have tables well spread out – 1 x food and 1 x drinks under 2 x separate gazebos
have a large open area where riders can stand apart from each other – 1 m +
have bike stands to support / park bikes so riders can walk around without any tripping over bikes on floor hazard

hazard

protecting event helpers from infection

control measures

issue helpers with gloves – hand sanitiser and face masks
brief them on the risks and the plan to set up and run the feed station safely

hazard

protecting riders from infection

control measures

issue guidance for feed station protocol in the event guidelines sent out to every rider prior to the event
put signs about social distancing on each gazebo and bike rack
have bike racks to hold bikes so riders can walk around (help maintain 1m + distancing)
have hand sanitiser near and on each of the separate food and drink areas
use individually pre-wrapped food items – laid out on tables for riders to help themselves to – for good covid and general food hygiene
have 1 x helper to pour juice and water into rider’s water bottles while riders hold their own water bottle throughout – for good covid and general food hygiene
have no cups – riders drink from their own water bottle only
have bin bag lined dustbins near the tables for discarded packaging and empty bottles – to be retuned to event hq and disposed of in waste recycling centres asap (helpers tie these up without touching rubbish inside)

broom wagons

hazards

assisting with mechanical s / carrying riders and bikes in vehicles back to lancaster

control measures

issue all helpers with hand sanitiser – face masks and gloves
face masks and gloves to be worn if dealing with a rider out on the event or loading their bike onto the vehicle
issue a face mask to the rider (s) being assisted and ask them to sit in the rear of the vehicle if being transported back to event hq
open all windows if practical during the journey
clean inside vehicle and change ppe once assistance has been given or back at event hq

finish area

hazards

many riders congregating after the event

control measures

get riders to estimate how long they will take to complete this event when entering online – use this info to allocate start times
have fastest riders start early and slower riders last – to ensure staggered finishing and event departure times
have everything in the finish area – hq – goody bags and souvenir medal collection (we only give out medals that are bought online when entering the event)
riders will cross the finish line – have their time logged by 1 x helper – help themselves to a goody bag from a table – collect a medal from 1 x helper if pre purchased – return to park and ride car park – get changed – stow bike and return home

hazard

keeping event helpers safe

control measures

issue gloves – masks and hand sanitiser to all event helpers
brief helpers on finish line set up and safety plans

hazard

keeping 3-1-5 health club members and staff safe

control measures

avoid the club all together apart from the toilets inside the main entrance

notes –

our usual sportive s are held @ the large 3-1-5 gym / leisure / health club on the outskirts of lancaster – we use their large car parking area and have our event day hq and registration inside the clubs building

participants normally park up and come inside to register and collect their event number / enter on the day and pay cash

they then get ready and head to the starting area – across a main road around 200m from the club

participants congregate together on the lane down to the start line

we start them off in groups of around 12 x riders every few minutes between 0900 and 1030hrs

we usually have 1 x feed station around halfway through the ride – usually in a village near public toilets – manned by 2 x helpers

on arrival back at the finish our riders get presented with a goody bag and a drink / snack

once back at the health club riders come inside for a chat / hot drink / snack / collect pre purchased event medal

all our participants are then welcome to have a shower / get changed / use the clubs swimming pool / sauna / jacuzzi

*none of this will happen until the covid 19 pandemic is over – but we feel that our events can be run as safely as possible with the changes outlined above – but welcome all addition suggestions / feedback / advice*