TARGET TOKYO
In an Olympic year like no other, CW assesses the races and riders to watch over the next few weeks and months
With Covid still playing havoc with the calendar the run into the Olympic games on 23 July is far from certain. The Newport Track World Cup that should have taken place in March was cancelled and travel restrictions make attendance at other events a moving target. British Cycling sent a team including Olympic prospects Laura and Jason Kenny and Katie Archibald to a meet in Ghent last weekend, the start-list of which was swelled by top stars desperate for racing experience.
There are some smaller track meets in Russia (21-23 May), Germany (23-24, 28-29 May) and Ireland (5-6 June) that BC could enter riders into but they are not currently on the BC plan. Current possible warm-up events are:
British Cycling is not expected to send Olympic athletes but will use it for academy riders to gain qualification for the World Championships in the autumn.
NATIONS CUP COLOMBIA 3-6 JUNE
All but essential travel to Colombia is currently banned and Covid cases are currently rising.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS BELARUS23-27 JUNE
The last competition before the BC team enters its Newport holding camp.
ROAD DATES
Men should be able to ride the Tour de France (26 June-18 July) in preparation for the road race and time trials as there is not expected to be quarantine requirements for riders flying to Tokyo. The run-in to that race would look broadly similar to normal with the Critérium du Dauphiné (30 May-6 June) and Tour de Suisse (6-13 June) playing their usual warm-up roles. Women are likely to ride La Course (27 June) and the Giro Rosa (2-11 July) to find form for the Olympics.