TCA seeks ways to remedy riders…

TCA tries to find a way to remedy riders who suffer from "Covid-19" and continues to proceed with the project "Home Cycling, Combating Covid-19"

General Decha Hemkasri, President of Thai Cycling Association (TCA), under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King, Monday has met with national cycling trainers through video conference system in an effort to find a way to heal riders who suffer heavy troubles after the various events are in an interruption period from the covid-19 epidemic situation, causing most riders to lack their income. The TCA is going to prepare and collect the information to present to Dr. Gongsak Yodmani, governor of Sports Authority of Thailand for help. This plan includes the youth riders who get trained in different training center all over the nation. At the same time, the TCA will go ahead to continue the project "Home Cycling, Combating Covid-19" for the next edition on Thursday April 23, by inviting the general public to jointly ride with the national team riders, while "Thai PBS" will proceed to have a live broadcast again on Sunday April 26 at 2pm-4pm.

In the meeting on Monday April 20 at the Seri Trairat Convention Hall, the President of the TCA, together with Mr. Nuthapong Lohitnavy, the chairman of Technical department, “Coach Tum” Wisut Kasiyaphat and the working groups, has met with coaches of all disciplines such as Track, Road, mountain bike and BMX for monitoring the riders' training as well as checking the riders who are suffering from the Covid-19 in order to seek ways to help with further remedies.

For details of the meeting, General Decha has asked all coaches whether in each category there are any athletes at both the elite and youth level who experienced a lack of incomes during the outbreak of Covid-19  or not. These athletes will normally receive training allowances, food and accommodation expenses from their training to prepare for competitions such as SEA Games, Asian Games, Road To Paris, and the Asian Championship. But the project was halted due to the situation of the Covid-19. All riders must practice at home in accordance with government protection measures. The most riders do not have full-time jobs. Therefore, they do not have allowances to support the family and spend on a daily basis.

While Fli.Lt. Suphat Srisawai, the coach of mountain bike, said that many riders have no income at this time. Therefore, they would like to request the association to find a way to help remedy. It should be at least training allowances and food expenses, but accommodation is not necessary, since everyone keeps practicing at home.

General Decha said that due to the situation of the covid-19 virus, every rider must detain and practice at his/her own home. If it is during the normal events. These athletes will practice to prepare to participate in various competitions. For example, “Beaze” Lt. Jutatip Maneephan, a female road rider, will have to get trained for the preparation to compete in the Olympic Games 2020, or short track riders will have continuous training programs at the World Cycling Center (WCC) in Switzerland, including riders at the national youth level. Most of which do not have a full-time job. But everyone is still practicing at home to maintain their physical condition all the time.

"At this time, riders do not have any competition at all and many of them do not have a full -time job. Therefore, there is no income from such problems for athletes. I have informed all  coaches of all disciplines to summarize the list of riders who have suffered and to submit them to the Association today (April 20) so as to present to Dr. Kongsak Yodmani,  Governor of Sports Authority of Thailand to find ways to remedy and help further, said General Decha.

In addition, the president of the Association has also held a meeting with coaches at various cycling training centers around the country to examine the list of riders suffering from the situation of the Covid-19 to propose to the Association and to make a plan for requesting a budget to purchase training equipment at the home such as a trainer, a Bluetooth sensor for connecting with the Zwift application via mobile phone or Tablets for youth riders who are ready to participate in the "Home Cycling, Combating Cobid-19” project that has been the collaboration between Association, the Office of Thai Health Promotion Foundation (THPF) and Thai PBS Television on Sunday April 19 which had a great success. On that day, the people have watched on Facebook live, Thai PBS fan page and the Thaicycling Association about 300,000 views, excluding a separate website via live television and You Tube.

General Decha has added that the Association will hold the next "Home Cycling, Combating Covid-19” event on Thursday April 23 in which the form is to invite the general public to participate in online via the Zwift application. Riders of the national teams are the riding leaders of the group of 50 people, and this program will be broadcast live at 6:00 pm onwards on the Facebook Fan page of the Thaicycling Association starting from 05.30 pm. Moreover, on Sunday April 26, the THPF and Thai PBS will continue to proceed with the "Home Cycling, Combating Covid-19” project which will be broadcast live at 2pm-4pm on both main television channels (press number 2), including live Facebook page of Thai PBS (Thai PBS) and Thaicycling Association.