Life Time, the nation’s premier healthy lifestyle brand which owns and produces the Garmin DK, the world’s premier gravel event, today announced the 2020 DK, which had been rescheduled for September 12, 2020, has been cancelled due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns. The decision comes after thorough input from community leaders and reviewing the latest scientific data trends on the Coronavirus pandemic.
“Our team has worked hard for many weeks to determine if an event could take place in Emporia this fall and we have been in regular communication with local community and health leaders to determine our best path forward,” said Lelan Dains, DK Race Director at Life Time. “While we hoped that something could be done, if even with an altered capacity, we now realize the safest and most responsible thing to do for our athletes, volunteers, and community is cancel the 2020 event.”
Registered DK 2020 athletes have been provided four options due to the race cancellation and are asked to make their selection by August 7:
- Complimentary deferral into the 2021 event (currently scheduled for June 5, 2021).
- Complimentary deferral into the 2022 event (currently scheduled for June 4, 2022).
- Donation of original entry fee to the Life Time Foundation (100 percent of which will be used to fund the Emporia Unified School District 253 school lunch program) and receive a guaranteed, non-complimentary entry into their choice of the 2021 or 2022 event.
- A full refund (excluding processing fees).
Danny Giefer, Mayor of Emporia, added, “The decision to cancel an event is never an easy one, and I appreciate the thought and work that the Life Time team has put into planning the 2020 race. While we are all disappointed the event can’t occur as planned, we can look forward to 2021 and a continued long-term relationship hosting the world’s premier gravel cycling race right here in Emporia.”
Life Time’s DK team continues to see a bright future ahead with a continued focus on growing the sport, along with a promised new name and fresh look. The 2021 event also is promised to be a first-of-its-kind experience for athletes, volunteers, and community members. In addition to the planned event rebrand, which will be unveiled in the coming months, Life Time is in the process of creating an event-industry-focused diversity, equity and inclusion coalition.
For more updates and the 2020 DK being cancelled, visit https://dirtykanza.com/new-dirt/2020-event-status-update/
The Garmin DK is owned and produced by Life Time, the premier healthy lifestyle brand, which also operates more than 150 comprehensive athletic, health, fitness and entertainment resorts in the U.S. and Canada. As an extension of its Healthy Way of Life philosophy and brand, Life Time owns and produces more 30 premier athletic events with a commitment to exceptional experiences for participants and spectators alike.