Malverns Classic fought for 2020 but Covid shunts to August 2021

Friday, 17 July 2020 Mark Sutton

The GT Malverns Classic has succumb, like almost all other events on the calendar, to a coronavirus linked postponement of its 2020 event.

Up until very recently it appeared as though the Malverns Classic would push through, with the green light to go ahead apparently delivered. The organiser has now written on its website that a local Covid-19 outbreak has quickly delivered the final blow to hopes of an event this year.

The post reads:

It is with great sadness that we have to inform you that the festival is postponed until August Bank Holiday 2021.

Today (16/07/20) we received a letter from the council and their concern over the recent C-19 outbreak on a farm, just 4 miles from Eastnor with almost 100 cases confirmed.

‘My recommendation is that at this time you should not go ahead with the event. The risk is too great and there is still a risk that that area could be under lockdown when the event was due to happen’.

All spectators and racers will be refunded within the next seven days.

Having been called off in 2019 due to waterlogged grounds, the event has now suffered two years of consecutive setback, though remains widely supported by the bike industry, including sponsor GT Bikes.

Moving forwards

The organisers have now confirmed the 2021 event will take place at Eastnor Deer Park in Herefordshire over the August bank holiday running the 26th to 29th.

The Malverns Classic 2021 will, as usual, comprise an exhibition element with what is expected to be over 100 participating brands and as many as 40 bike label demos. The event, one of the largest of its kind in the mountain bike world, is famed for its racing, lake ride feature and accessibility to riders ranging downhillers to cross country riders.

If you have any questions about the event, please contact the Event Director Si Paton.