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My unnecessary travel has already been fucked over. Doing some audaxes was what I'd planned to fill in the new gaps I've now got in my calendar.
hippy-
Strava kudos only then.
Before people say, sure some individuals would be able to go out and do a 200km DIY x GPS taking all of their food/water with them so they keep to the social distancing restrictions, but AUK can't do anything to enforce this so it runs the risk of someone doing something stupid on a ride under their auspices.
Also I doubt the AUK insurers would pay out if something went wrong, and if they don't pay out then AUK itself could be liable.
Lastly, there's the emergency cover issue. If you choose to do something like this and end up needing emergency care the Government has hinted you'd be back of the queue. Again, this is something AUK as could not be seen to be condoning/facilitating.
Greenbank
Probably to discourage unnecessary travel, and the fact that doing a 200km Audax isn't "necessary" to maintain fitness. With the current Government recommendations you're free to go out and do whatever you like on a bike in the name of exercise (keeping social distancing in mind).
If you need to do a 200km ride to maintain your fitness then go out and do it, but you don't "need" the Audax bit of it. If AUK kept DIYs/awards going then that might be seen as encouring people to do rides they wouldn't have given the current situation.
The previous official announcement (13th) was emailed to all members a few days after it appeared on the AUK forum, I assume they'll do the same with this one.