UCI Releases New COVID Protocols for the Tour de France
Testing has always been a factor at the Tour de France, but rather than just peeing in cups between stages, riders will be sticking swabs up their noses as well this year as Le Tour kicks off.
Yesterday, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) published and updated set of rules for racing during COVID-19, just three days before the Grand Depart. The new rules came after nearly a quarter of the competitors and three of the biggest teams at Tour de Suisse were forced to abandon the race due to positive COVID tests mid-June.
Now, the UCI is struggling to reconcile the need to have racing continue with rider and staff safety at events.
In the new UCI document on “Rules for the organisation of road cycling competitions in the context of the coronavirus pandemic,” the primary changes include:
Two days before the start of the race, presentation of at least one negative antigen test for all members of the teams (riders and staff)
On the rest days of the event (with the exception of any transfer days), a COVID antigen test for all team members (riders and staff), as well as for Commissaires (International and National), UCI Technical Delegates and anti-doping control personnel.
If a rider tests positive with the rapid test on the rest day, they will be required to then take a PCR test to confirm the positive. However, while these rules may sound more stringent, they also leave a few openings that allow for more riders to continue racing, rather than less.
If one or two riders test positive, the team may not be barred from racing entirely: The role that authorised the organiser to withdraw from the race any team that had two or more riders returning positive COVID PCR tests within seven days has been dropped.
The new rules also include an open-ended policy for what happens once a rider tests positive, saying: “The decision to potentially isolate the case shall be taken collectively by the team doctor concerned, the COVID doctor for the event and the UCI Medical Director, on the basis of the clinical elements available.”
The UCI is also recommending daily rapid tests in the week ahead of the race, plus rapid testing for all team members every two to three days during the race. Masks will continue to be required in certain areas including podium presentations. The medical protocols have been recommended by a group led by UCI medical director Xavier Bigard, who’s had a busy couple of months between COVID protocols and making the recommendations that shaped the UCI’s new guidelines for transgender participation in cycling.
It’s unsurprising that the UCI would be making these changes to COVID protocol, as riders are already dropping from the starting lineup with positive COVID tests. Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl rider Tim Declercq, UAE-Emirate rider Matteo Trentin and Jumbo-Visma sports director Merijn Zeeman both will not be in Copenhagen for the Grand Depart after testing positive for COVID.
“In view of the evolution of the international health situation and on the eve of the Tour de France, it has become necessary to reinforce the measures in force to ensure that the cycling events on our International Calendar can be held successfully and to protect the health of those present at the races,” UCI President David Lappartient said. “Even if the situation we are currently experiencing with the pandemic is less worrying than the one we saw at the height of the health crisis, we must remain vigilant. With this in mind, I call on all parties concerned to continue to scrupulously respect all the provisions of our health protocols. This discipline and solidarity have enabled us to maintain our activities over the past two years and will enable us to cope should the pandemic worsen in the future.”
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