2020 Cape Epic Cancelled

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https://www.facebook.com/scottmtbracing/videos/187600935998377/?t=29

So riders got this communication

More or less about an hour ago, I turn a bend on "De Waal" now Philip Kgosana Drive and cars are dodging about 6 cyclist of Team Brazil. I nearly road one over. 

Have no idea why they cycling on that road, but its just crazy. I wonder if they went down hospital bend.

I think a brief to visiting cyclists where is good, safe etc to cycle should be done, especially with riders doing events here.

Overreacting IMO. The riders should have been asked if they want to ride or not - not make a decision for them. #paybackthemoney

Together with most of the upcoming pro peleton tours? 

Together with most of the upcoming pro peleton tours? 

F1

MotoGP

MXGP

WSL

NBA

Tennis

Where can we buy the brand new S Works bikes that were bought by the overweight/unfit sponsor CEO's that were only going to be used in the prologue?

Seriously though, I feel bad for the guys who paid their entries. The Epic will come unstuck if they don't give those guys at least free entries next year.

F1

MotoGP

MXGP

WSL

NBA

Tennis

Was any of these canceled in 2009 when H1N1 infected 1.4 billion people?

Was any of these canceled in 2009 when H1N1 infected 1.4 billion people?

Is the way this virus spreads that is causing gatherings to be cancelled and movement of people restricted #asymptomatic

Was any of these canceled in 2009 when H1N1 infected 1.4 billion people?

I'd say it's precisely BECAUSE H1N1 infected 1.4bn people that these measures are being taken, plus H1N1 had a death rate of LESS THAN 1/100th that of COVID-19. That is why it's important that these measures are taken. 

H1N1 death rate : 0.02% COVID-19 death rate: 2% at the moment, conservatively. 

Was any of these canceled in 2009 when H1N1 infected 1.4 billion people?

In trying to make your own point, you actually made our point even stronger for us.

If this was real just a trivial flu or something we as Joe Soap has blown out of proportion, there is no way in hell that these financial behemoths in sport would put their earnings on hold. The people in control of these sports care about growing their sports to increase revenue for the sport.

Cancelling the season is not a decision anybody takes lightly.

Only sensible reason that makes sense to me as to why you are so bent on making this seem less terrible than it clearly is is that you have some serious "skin in the game"?

Are you maybe in the travel industry? Or in Sports broadcasting?

In trying to make your own point, you actually made our point even stronger for us.

 

If this was real just a trivial flu or something we as Joe Soap has blown out of proportion, there is no way in hell that these financial behemoths in sport would put their earnings on hold. The people in control of these sports care about growing their sports to increase revenue for the sport.

 

Cancelling the season is not a decision anybody takes lightly.

 

Only sensible reason that makes sense to me as to why you are so bent on making this seem less terrible than it clearly is is that you have some serious "skin in the game"?

 

Are you maybe in the travel industry? Or in Sports broadcasting?

I'd say it's precisely BECAUSE H1N1 infected 1.4bn people that these measures are being taken, plus H1N1 had a death rate of LESS THAN 1/100th that of COVID-19. That is why it's important that these measures are taken.

 

H1N1 death rate : 0.02% COVID-19 death rate: 2% at the moment, conservatively.

28 Million dead if we get the same infection total with a death rate of 2percent.

However, it is clearly visible that this thing will hit some regions much higher than others, for various reasons.

So some might not even see a noteworthy impact, whereas other regions will be completely decimated.

I for one would not have believed someone if they were to tell me that at the current death rate Italy can pass the death tally of China within the next 7 days..

Many do pay out of their own pocket ...

Read this. It is worth your time and will help to understand. With only a handful of virus positive visitors this event could have been a super-spreader and caused a catastrophe for Western Cape. The risk is real. Tough decision, I truly feel for the riders. A f#$%up of 'epic' proportions (excuse the pun). But this is not about the riders' health alone but about everybody in the province and beyond.

https://medium.com/@tomaspueyo/coronavirus-act-today-or-people-will-die-f4d3d9cd99ca

Feel for all suppliers .AV,hospitality,rentals,press,support staff etc etc.Also Epic staff who have been prepping this for year

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Read this. It is worth your time and will help to understand. With only a handful of virus positive visitors this event could have been a super-spreader and caused a catastrophe for Western Cape. The risk is real. Tough decision, I truly feel for the riders. A f#$%up of 'epic' proportions (excuse the pun). But this is not about the riders' health alone but about everybody in the province and beyond.

 

https://medium.com/@tomaspueyo/coronavirus-act-today-or-people-will-die-f4d3d9cd99ca

Jeepers that paints a bleak picture. Excellent read, thanks

My wifes company is in events and my agency works mainly for events clients (different ones though). Basically we've gone from both having work scheduled for the next 5 months to nothing in two days and all income stopped as the cancellations rained down since Friday. That's 2 businesses, 10 staff, all gone and very little chance of getting new events off the ground in the next 4 - 6 months and in the current environment pivoting into something that will at least pay bills looks pretty impossible.

Just one of the many industries, companies and others that will become collateral damage along this journey. 

Who is going to refund us losses on pensions, providents, investments, etc? Nobody! Sometimes **** happens and everyone loses. It’s not just the epic rides who have lost here. And if they epic went ahead and the disease spread faster; the impact on the global economy and markets will be felt even more

So say they gave the riders the option, 75% percent of the riders continued to risk it. They feel strong, don't have symptoms and no one came from Italy.

That's 750 riders , with all the support staff going with it, let's thumbsuck and say 250, that's 1000 people living in close proximity for 8 days. But 30 of those riders were asymptomatic carriers who got infected on the plane en route to cape town. Now they go and ride their hearts out for 8 days, suppress their immune systems, some are so tired that they neglect hygiene a bit. So those 30 carriers become 45 carriers. But all are asymptomatic. Afterwards they go home, or spend another week in Cape Town, maybe to Mzolis, or do a township tour.

10days after Epic that rider start showing symptoms. Phone the hotline and get a test at home. Positive. Self quarantine, because he is sick, but not enough to warrant hospitalisation.

So now the trace starts. The NICD now has 1000 first line contacts to follow up on, but those 1000 went home to families, their kids went to school, they went shopping, rode on public transport. And the NICD still has to go to mzolis.

Now if yiu think this is unlikely, the Epic has a history or riders with diarrhea. The riders can't even maintain basic hygiene to prevent a spread of gypo guts.

 

Do you still think it's an over reaction?

The riders can't even sh^t IN the toilet!!!

No Hub coffee ride on the Prologue course today?

The riders can't even sh^t IN the toilet!!!

made me think of this scene from that Benchwarmers movie haha...

"WHO DID THIS!??!"

Read this. It is worth your time and will help to understand. With only a handful of virus positive visitors this event could have been a super-spreader and caused a catastrophe for Western Cape. The risk is real. Tough decision, I truly feel for the riders. A f#$%up of 'epic' proportions (excuse the pun). But this is not about the riders' health alone but about everybody in the province and beyond.

 

https://medium.com/@tomaspueyo/coronavirus-act-today-or-people-will-die-f4d3d9cd99ca

Good article, thanks. Unfortunately the people that need to hear this will say it is alarmist.

I'll forward it to our HR next week. Time to test drive the Work From Home thing.

Ride the 2020 Route

2020 Absa Cape Epic trail networks

In light of the cancellation of the 2020 Absa Cape Epic, the team has worked over the last 24 hours alongside the dedicated and passionate 2020 land owners to grant registered riders access to certain sections of the route that was to be ridden over the next 8 days. Our aim is to ensure that all riders who have travelled from around the globe leave South Africa having experienced just a small part of what this incredible event, and all its stakeholders, have to offer with its vast network of breath taking trails and untamed landscapes.

Please ensure you sign in using your Absa Cape Epic race number to receive your complimentary trail permits, which have been arranged by our land owners.

READ THE REST HERE:

https://www.cape-epic.com/riders/the-2020-race/ride-the-2020-route

Thinking about it the Cape Epic is a bit like a landlocked cruise ship with similar shared facilities and possibly worse if you consider shared toilets and showers. Looking at the rate of the virus being spread on a cruise ship added to the fact that a large number of competitors come from Europe which is currently being considered the epicentre of the pandemic, cancelling the event was the only option. That does not make the pain that is being felt by those getting ready to register yesterday any less.

Thinking about it the Cape Epic is a bit like a landlocked cruise ship with similar shared facilities and possibly worse if you consider shared toilets and showers. Looking at the rate of the virus being spread on a cruise ship added to the fact that a large number of competitors come from Europe which is currently being considered the epicentre of the pandemic, cancelling the event was the only option. That does not make the pain that is being felt by those getting ready to register yesterday any less.

Which begs the question if it is wise to proceed with these rides ...

Unlike a cruise ship ... once these rides are done the riders go home and potentially spread the virus ....

Going ahead with this when the rest of the sporting world cancels events borders on irresponsible ...