The impact of Covid-19 on professional cycling

TCA Safety Survey

Since racing restarted after the implementation of the UCI Covid-19 protocol, the first months have shown that both the teams and riders are taking the protocol seriously. 

However, there have been instances where the protocol has been difficult to maintain. 

The TCA, with the help of other team doctors, has tried to assist with this by further risk assessing races and requesting additional information from organisers if race protocols appeared incomplete, alongside assisting riders with their individual concerns. 

The TCA has also taken the opportunity to measure the impact of COVID-19 on professional cycling and to help identify any issues to ensure that future races meet the correct standards. 

We sent out a rider survey after the Giro Rosa (September 2020) to our members to get feedback from the women’s peloton during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to understand their needs and fears. It was sent to all our members (road, track, mountain bike and cyclocross riders). The majority who responded were road riders. 

Survey results have shown that: 

  • Riders feel that, at some races, the COVID-19 protocols are not being correctly followed by other riders and teams, organisers, and other groups attending races (in particular spectators but there are also concerns about behavior of media and anti-doping officials) 
  • The main concerns outside of racing were on the risks of travel and accommodation For example, the requested ‘bubble’ is very difficult to maintain in travel and is not being enforced or maintained in accommodation provided at races.  65% Of the riders are concerned the lack of enforcement of protocols in race accommodation puts them at risk of infection.
  • Nearly 30% of riders still have no team doctor or no direct access to one - compromising the protocol through no fault of their own 
  • 25% have to arrange their own COVID-19 testing and nearly 10% have to pay for their own tests 

COVID-19 infections are now rapidly increasing in Europe. We have also seen an increase in the number of COVID-19 positive tests within the women’s peloton and subsequent withdrawal of riders and teams from races. There is currently no guidance for what happens when positive tests arise between one day races scheduled close together. 

As a result of our survey and following recent events we raised the following questions with the UCI (October 10) and we await their response:

  • At what point does racing become too great a risk, not just for riders and their teams, but for the race organisation and general public? 
  • Is the UCI able and willing to fully enforce the Covid-19 protocol it has set out? 
  • Are organisers and teams truly able to operate in safe ‘bubble’ environments (as required by the Covid-19 protocol to minimise risks to riders, team and race staff?

Please, find the full results of the survey below:

TCA-SafetySurvey_Oct2020

We are sure you have many questions about your personal situation and how to deal with Covid-19. That's why we have set up a Covid-19 'follow-up' webinar by Dr. Claire Rose.

In this webinar Claire will talk you through the following topics:

- What should I do if I test positive for COVID-19?
- What are the possible impacts of COVID-19 on my health and cycling career?
- How can I make sure I am safe to return to cycling?

Of course, there will the opportunity to ask questions, if you have any in advance, please let us know by info@cyclistsalliance.org so we can prepare!

The webinar will take place Thursday, November 5 at 7:30 pm CET. 

If you want to join the webinar, please email info@cyclistsalliance.org (members only)

Leave a Reply