TCA ready to adjust Thailand Championships’formats, In case the COVID-19 situation not resolved. For “Home Cycling, Combating COVID-19,” Facebook viewers landslide almost 400,00 views.

TCA would be ready to adjust Thailand Championships’ formats in all disciplines, if the situation of the epidemic of the Covid-19 has not yet been resolved. As for the "General Decha", it has already been prepared a plan for strictly protective measures, including the long-distance international road race, namely "Tour of Thailand 2020" which has been closely coordinated with the Ministry of Public Health. As the project “Home Cycling, Combating COVID-19”  for the 3^rd week was extremely active, allowing fans to enjoy cycling with the national team riders. There were landslide audiences through on a live Facebook of "Thai PBS TV” nearly 4 hundred thousand views.

General Decha Hemkasri, President of Thai Cycling Association(TCA), under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King, revealed that after the government has announced an Emergency Decree continued until May 31 to prevent the spread of the Covid-19, the Association, therefore, has changed the King Bhumibhol’s Cup Thailand Road Championships and the King’s Cup Thailand Mountain Bike competition Championships. In 2020, a total of 5 rounds have been reduced to 4 ones by cutting the competition in Trat Province in order to cut the burden of the province, since in this year, Trat province will have to host the 36th National Junior Games "White Elephant Games" and the 3rd National Senior Games "Trat Games".

However, General Decha said that having reduced the competition to 4 rounds, the TCA still has to look at the situation of the COVID-19 epidemic Closely. If the May has passed, the epidemic has not yet been resolved or the government has continued to expand an Emergency Decree. The Association may have to adjust to a new program or have to change certain types of races such as the Mass Start Road Race may be canceled and the is only Time Trial race instead, where the form of competition is the release of athletes one by one, the rider who makes the fastest time is the winner. Thus, the riders competing in both categories must be prepared beforehand, if the situation improves, the competition will be organized in the same format.

General Decha said that the cross-country mountain bike might be adjusted to the Eliminator race, the format is to release 4 people at a time, the best first-two will go through the next round until the final round. So the course is not too long race, while the downhill discipline probably won't have any problems because it was already released one by one, the format of the competition compete is the same one. For BMX racing, too, there is no problem with the close-up of the rider, since the time of release from the starting gate will be in their respective spaces with a clear distance and to spend a very short time of the competition. The Association, however, has put strict measures regarding cheering teams or the parents who follow cyclists onto the venue. This must be kept apart, there must be a screening point before entering the venue such as a fever measurement, to give a mask, to give an alcohol gel to wash hands and all parents will not be allowed to enter the area where the riders are competing.

President of the TCA went on to say that the international long distance cycling competition "The Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s Cup Tour of Thailand 2020", originally scheduled during April 1-10, has postponed to compete in August 1-10 with the same route starting Amphawa district, Samut Songkhram province passing through Phetchaburi. - Prachuap Khiri Khan - Chumphon - Ranong and finishing in Surat Thani province. The strictly preventive measures will be used to prevent the spread of the COVID-19. The opening ceremony and the daily awards will limit the number of attendees to no more than 20 people, to shorten the process of the ceremony, including a detailed screening plan at every point.

“The Association has closely coordinated with the Ministry of Public Health, with a courtesy of Dr. Sathit Patutecha, Deputy Minister of Public Health, who sent a working group to plan together with the medical department of the Association led by Dr. Eklarp Thongborisute, a Vice President of Medical Affairs. However, if the outbreak of the COVID-19  has been for many months The association has already planned to find a solution. All parties concerned will be informed at the next opportunity,” said General Decha.

“Seth. Muek” also added that in the situation of an Emergency Decree, the Association, therefore, has collaborated with the Office of Thai Health Promotion Foundation (THPF) and Thai PBS Television to organize the  “Home Cycling, Combating COVID-19” project so as to encourage the people to exercise at home via the Zwift application every Sunday. Riders of Thailand national team both men and women have taken part. There is a live broadcast on Thai PBS from 14.00-16.00pm, including on Facebook live of Thai PBS fan page and Facebook live of Thaicycling Association which has implemented the project twice, it appeared to have a positive response from fans around the country. The visitors on the Facebook page of Thai PBS were more than 3 hundred thousand views each time. With the competition on Sunday May 3, it was a total audience of almost 400,000 views, it was a beautiful success. 

For the project “Home Cycling, Combating COVID-19” on Sunday May 3, the male riders competed in the Watopia Figure 8 loop. The female riders rode on the Bologna route. But each time, there is an opportunity for fans at home to compete with Thai national cyclists that are divided into many levels. The level A is the national cycling team for men and the professional team of the Thai Continental Cycling Team, the level B is the female national cycling team and those who are proficient in the Zwift application and C programs are famous cyclists in the cycling circles. The top three riders of the level A and the top ten riders of the level B will receive a shield of honor from General Decha Hemkasri, President of the TCA.

 The results of the level A, the winner is Cpl. Peerapong Ladngoen, he is ranked eight in the number of riders from around the world, 2nd place is Peter Poole from Training Camp Peter (TCP), 3rd "Bass" Sgt.Puchong Sai udomsin. The winner of the level B (all national teams) is "Angun" Kuracha Chairin, 2nd place is "Kai" Pcf. Suphaksorn Nantana, 3rd place "Beazz" Lieutenant Juthatip Maneephan, The winner of the level B (all 3 famous female riders) is "Dew" Ariya Charnpiphatkul (Venn Cycling Team), 2nd place is "Fahsai” Chaisakitphaiboonsri from Team Sky Rider, 3rd place "Nam Ing" Nattha Klongklaew  (EN KKU team). Other results were now available on www.thaicycling.or.th

General Decha added that the “Home Cycling, Combating COVID-19” project is a very popular activity at the moment. In the situation of the epidemic of the COVID-19, it can be seen that all Thai national team riders are fully fit.  In particular, female riders has successfully grabbed the top 3 of the competition If the spread of the COVID-19 is not sparse.  these national riders can further practice immediately, while the next project of “Home Cycling, Combating COVID-19” that is a cycling for health to allow the general public to participate in that activity will be held on Thursday May 7 and will televised live via Facebook of the Thaicycling Association from 17.00pm and to start a real race at 18.00pm.

Furthermore, cycling fans can find details on the website of Thai Cycling Association www.thaicycling.or.th and Facebook Thaicycling Association Facebook page or for more information at "Message box" on Facebook.