Friday and Saturday July 25th & 26th, 2020
The road ahead…
Dear Tour de Gap Cyclists and Friends,
We are excited to announce that the 2020 Tour de Gap will be held on the originally scheduled dates of Saturday and Sunday, July 25th and 26, 2020. Throughout the period of uncertainty due to COVID-19 our event team has been communicating, getting expert advice and developing contingency plans. Safety has always been the first concern, and we are now convinced that Tour de Gap can be held safely in regard to communicable disease concerns. In order to accomplish this, we will make significant changes in how the event is conducted this year. An updated list of the modifications is available here.
How did we arrive at this decision? When compared to other bike tours, rides and races we see that TdG is unique in that just about everything we do is outside in the fresh air at Buffalo Gap, Texas, making physical distancing more easily accomplished. We will avoid having a mass start and also alter our registration, packet pickup, rest stop and award procedures to minimize contact. Our planning is informed by constant comparison with guidelines provided by the C.D.C. and local authorities.
Will everyone think this is a brilliant idea? No. But in a recent poll of 8,780 respondents surveyed this month by USA Cycling, a majority said that they would consider participating in events that are still on the calendar. We know that this year is unusual and respect all opinions. If you have any concerns about coming to the Tour this year, it’s probably best to sit this one out.
We’ve been planning with our nonprofit sponsor, Big Brothers-Big Sisters of West Central Texas. Haley Carlson, event coordinator for BBBSTx, said, “We’re prioritizing your safety. Over the next few months, this agency—much like many nonprofits here and across the country—will be faced with tough decisions. This means we have an opportunity to develop unique solutions which will benefit our mission in the long run.”The 37th Tour de Gap raised a record amount for BBBSTx. Expectations may be lowered, but we’d love for the 38th year to help this great organization weather the pandemic’s impact on its budget. So even if you do not plan to attend, you can participate by making a helpful donation to BBBSTx here.
As our state and nation opens up, we note that cycling has gained a lot of new and returning participants. The sport is ideal for healthy exercise. We urge everyone to be an encourager and help as many as possible enjoy the pleasures of the sport. It’s this spirit of taking care of each other that will get us through this period, and if we do that, it will have lasting, positive effects.
Sincerely,
38th Tour de Gap Team
Mark Spurlock, Bill Minter, Jim Macdonald and Haley Carlson
