2021 COVID-19 Protocol

The Gravel Worlds Team takes the safety and health of the Community very seriously.  We want our participants, volunteers, and the Community to be healthy so we can enjoy your company for years to come.  That has always been true, but extra caution is obviously required due to the COVID pandemic.

We’ve set up a list of COVID-based Requirements and Rules that all attendees (event participants, volunteers and event promoters) must follow.  In putting together an event this large requires a lot of planning, and the addition of Local, State, and Federal Directed Health Measures (DHMs) can affect a lot of our abilities to plan appropriately.  This plan is dynamic and will likely change to adhere to the Local, State and Federal DHMs. 

Consider the following Requirements and Rules as clear expectations.  Any individual not adhering to these Requirements and Rules will be dismissed from the event.   

All individuals are encouraged to be vaccinated prior to attending the event. 

Self-Screening Requirement

Event participants, volunteers and event promoters must complete self-screening prior to coming to any of the event activities.  You must screen yourself with the follow questions:

• Do you have a fever higher than 100.4 F or, have you had to use fever-reducing medications (i.e. Tylenol®, Acetaminophen, Advil®, Ibuprofen) in the last 24 hours to control a fever higher than 100.4 F?

• Do you have unresolved or new onset shortness of breath or difficulty breathing?

• Do you have new onset of sustained persistent nonproductive cough (a dry cough lasting longer than 24 hours)?

• Do you have new onset of loss of taste or smell?

  • Do you have two or more of the following prolonged (symptom(s) lasting for longer than 24 hours) and unexplained (no other reasonable cause) symptoms?

a) Sore throat

b) Sustained (longer than 2 hours) chills or repeated shaking with chills

c) Headache

d) Muscle pain

e) Congestion and/or runny nose

f) Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea

• Have had direct contact with someone who tested positive in the past 14 days and you have not had a negative COVID PCR test.

If you answer “Yes” to any of the above questions, you are not permitted to attend any of the event activities.

Face Masks/Coverings

The event will follow current DMHs and CDC guidelines on face masks and will always error on the side of caution.  Event participants, volunteers and event promoters will be required to always wear face coverings unless six feet of distance can be always maintained.  No exceptions.

Face masks will be required during the following:

• Event activities in which six feet of social distancing cannot be maintained.

• During Rider check-in, the start of the event, while riding in a group in which six feet of social distancing cannot be maintained, at Checkpoints and other stops during the event, at the finish line, post-event activities, and the Awards Ceremony.

Participants are required to provide their own face mask that meets CDC guidelines.  Buffs are acceptable.  Soiled masks should be replaced at your earliest convenience. 

A face mask, surgical or cloth, or covering such as a buff is sufficient.

Social Distancing

Everyone is responsible for ensuring physical distancing.  The Requirements and Rules for social distancing are as follows:

• All attendees, volunteers, and even promoters should maintain 6 feet of appropriate physical distance as much as possible.

• Avoid making contact with others including hand shaking, high fives and hugs.

• Do not share personal equipment such as water bottles, eye wear cleaners, food, etc.  You can assist another rider with supplies if a mechanical occurs while maintaining social distancing as much as possible.

• All spectators or groups of spectators should maintain six feet of social distancing are limited to no more than eight (8) spectators are in any single group.
  

Hand Hygiene and sanitation

Everyone is responsible for practicing hand hygiene during the event.  Hand sanitizer stations will be placed throughout the venue.  Attendees should avoid high fives and handshakes. 

Using EPA approved disinfectants, all shared surfaces, areas, equipment will be thoroughly cleaned by trained volunteers and staff every 30 mins.  This includes tables throughout the events and any other shared surfaces including porta potties.  All guidelines for dine-in restaurants will be followed.

Contact Tracing

All participants will be contact traced during the event including the Rider Check-in and race day.  A list of participants will be compiled and shared with local Health Officials if deemed necessary.  Please be patient while entering the rider check-in area so we can ensure all entrants are logged.

Rider Check-in and Expo – Friday August 20, 2021

The dynamic nature of the pandemic makes it impossible to determine what activities will be permitted during the event weekend.  We hope the Expo can occur.  If it does, all exhibitors and attendees will wear masks, practice social distancing, and hand hygiene. 

Riders will be permitted to Check-in on Friday August 20th from 9 AM to 5 PM.  It may be necessary to sign up for a designated time to attend the rider check-in.  Additional information will be communicated to all participants regarding check-in. 

At the Start 

The Gravel Worlds 150 mile event may have staggered start times to ensure social distancing and limit the number of participants in an area.  Participants will be staged according to their estimated finish time.  The time between staggered groups and the number in each group has yet to be determined.  Riders will be stretched out, with each rider at least 6 feet apart from the closest rider.  All riders will be required to wear a face covering in the time leading up to the start of the race but not during the race unless within 6 feet of another rider, staff, or volunteer.  Should riders not have a face covering, one will be made available. 

At Mandatory Checkpoints  

At the Checkpoints, volunteers and staff will be required to wear face coverings.  There will be tables each spaced 6 feet apart.  Frequent cleaning of surfaces (every 30 mins) will be done by volunteers using EPA approved list of disinfectants.  Riders will not be allowed to congregate around a table and will be spaced out such as social distancing may be maintained during the pick-up of their water and prepackaged food.  Water will be provided in receptacles which will be constantly cleaned and maintained by the staff.  This will allow water to be provided in an efficient manner and with minimal contact. 

No outside visitors will be allowed at Checkpoints.  This will limit the number of people at the Checkpoint, to keep participants and the volunteers as safe as possible. 

The volunteers will oversee water bottle refills.  Participants are not permitted to touch the dispensers. There will be food available for refuel at each stop.  There will be individually packaged goods, or a volunteer in charge of dispensing foods where that’s not possible.

At the Finish

At the end of the race, riders will be required to wear masks, practice social distancing and hand hygiene.  No hugs or high fives at the finish line.   

For the awards ceremony, individual winners will be called to the podium to receive his/her acknowledgment and prize.  All individuals on stage will be required to wear a face covering.  Once winner receives items, they will quickly exit stage area, allowing for next winner to be announced and receive their items.

For porta potties, similar to food and drink pick up, attendees will be social distanced, 6 feet part.  Fifteen porta potties will be available to allow shorter lines to form.