British Cycling ‘Strongly Recommends’ No One Rides Their Bike During The Queen’s Funeral

UPDATE 13/09/22 17:17pm: British Cycling have now removed the recommendation that no one rides their bike during the funeral from their official advice.

Monday the 19th has been set as the date of the Queen’s funeral and subsequently an impromptu bank holiday. Arrangements are being swiftly made by businesses and organisations around the country with many announcing they will be closed for the day, including some holiday companies.

British Cycling have today issued guidance for event organisers who had planned races and events scheduled for Monday 19th September essentially advising them to cancel or postpone their events in a mark or respect for the death of Queen Elizabeth II. They do point out that official guidance from the Royal Household is that it is not necessary to cancel sporting events during the mourning period.

The Royal Household has advised that there is no obligation to cancel or postpone events during the period of National Mourning, and this extends to all planned cycle-sport events, club and community activity. Therefore the decision to proceed with events or activities is at the discretion of individual organisers, volunteers, local authorities and landowners.

British Cycling go on to offer advice on including a minute of silence at the start of events that do go ahead during the mourning period. In a paragraph titled “Events and activities on the day of the State Funeral” they advise events to not be run on the day of the funeral itself, but in addition to this advice to event organisers British Cycling have gone further to ‘strongly recommend’ that no one should ride their bikes at all during the hours of the funeral.

British Cycling strongly recommends that anybody out riding their bike on the day of the State Funeral does so outside of the timings of the funeral service and associated processions, which will be confirmed later this week. Once published, we will share the details of those timings on this page.

British Cycling

The full text of the British Cycling statement offering advice and recommendations for the day of the funeral can be read here

Full statement reads..

Following the passing of Her Majesty The Queen yesterday afternoon, the Royal Household has today published guidance for the period of National Mourning, which will continue until the end of the day of the State Funeral.

You can read the full guidance from the Royal Household here. A shortened summary for event organisers, volunteers and other stakeholders in the sport can be found below.

Events and activities during the period of National Mourning

The Royal Household has advised that there is no obligation to cancel or postpone events during the period of National Mourning, and this extends to all planned cycle-sport events, club and community activity. Therefore the decision to proceed with events or activities is at the discretion of individual organisers, volunteers, local authorities and landowners.

As a mark of respect, and in keeping with the tone of National Mourning, organisers may wish to hold a period of silence and/or play the National Anthem at the start of events, and those present may wish to wear black armbands.

We would strongly advise all event organisers and volunteers to check with facility operators, local authorities and landowners – where relevant – on any changes to their own operations during the period of National Mourning.

Riders competing internationally during the period of National Mourning may also wish to wear black armbands. This will be the case for all riders representing the Great Britain Cycling Team during this time.

Events and activities on the day of the State Funeral

As a mark of respect to Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, British Cycling’s guidance is that no formal domestic activities should take place on the day of the State Funeral, Monday 19 September. This includes cycle sport events, club rides, coaching sessions and community programmes (such as Breeze rides).

British Cycling strongly recommends that anybody out riding their bike on the day of the State Funeral does so outside of the timings of the funeral service and associated processions, which will be confirmed later this week. Once published, we will share the details of those timings on this page.

As the day of the State Funeral has been designated as a national bank holiday, in line with many other employers British Cycling will close for the day.

Beaumont Trophy and Curlew Cup

Due to the re-allocation of police resources this weekend in preparation for the State Funeral, the Curlew Cup and Beaumont Trophy – which were scheduled to take place on Sunday – have been postponed.

The two races, which are the final rounds of the men’s and women’s National Road Series respectively, will now take place on Sunday 9 October.

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