COVID and Cycling: Why the Virus Still Disrupts the Sport in 2024

Even as the world has moved back to a state of post-pandemic "normalcy," COVID-19 continues to be a significant issue for professional cycling. The 2024 season has once again seen riders struck down by the virus at critical moments in their racing season, threatening to reshape races and derail potential victories.

João Almeida, one of the pre-race favourites at the 2024 Vuelta a España, is the latest to suffer from the impact of COVID. Reports suggested that he tested positive for the virus before a disastrous Stage 8, where he was dropped on the final climb and subsequently lost valuable time, likely ending his bid for overall victory. Just this morning, it was confirmed that Almeida has the virus, and has abandoned the race.

This isn’t an isolated incident. COVID-19 has remained a persistent threat to riders in the peloton, with major stars like Tom Pidcock and Geraint Thomas affected during the 2024 Tour de France. And in 2023, reigning world champion Remco Evenepoel was forced to abandon the Giro d’Italia while leading the race due to a positive COVID test. The question arises: why does COVID-19 still have such a grip on cycling, even as it seems to have receded in other sports and much of everyday life? The answer lies in the unique challenges faced by cyclists, the nature of their sport, and how viruses spread within the peloton.

A Perfect Breeding Ground

Cycling, more than most sports, creates an environment where viruses can easily spread. To state the obvious, the dynamics of the peloton, a large group of riders packed closely together for hours at a time, offer the ideal conditions for airborne transmission of illnesses like COVID-19. Riders draft behind one another, sometimes just inches apart, for up to six hours a day during stage races. This close proximity over long periods makes it incredibly difficult to avoid virus transmission if even one rider is infected.

In contrast to team sports like football or basketball, where players are intermittently close to each other and rarely for long durations, the peloton is a prolonged, moving cluster. Riders are constantly exhaling, breathing heavily, and interacting with one another, whether through drafting or riding in the slipstream of a competitor. This creates a “closed-loop” of air circulation, which allows viruses to spread rapidly.

Additionally, cyclists interact closely with their teammates off the bike. During multi-week races like the Tour de France or the Vuelta a España, riders live, eat, and travel together, further increasing the chances of viral spread. A rider who contracts COVID can therefore expose their entire team, staff, and others in the peloton before realizing they are infected.

Endurance Sports and the Immune System

Now we’ve addressed the more obvious aspects, we can find out more specifically why cyclists are impacted more significantly than other sports. Cyclists are also uniquely vulnerable to viral infections due to the nature of the sport itself. Endurance sports are known to suppress the immune system, particularly during periods of extreme exertion, making athletes more susceptible to illness. The cumulative physical stress of training, racing, and recovering creates an "open window" where the body’s immune response is compromised, leaving athletes more prone to infections.

During a Grand Tour, this susceptibility is heightened. Cyclists are pushing their bodies to the limit day after day, often riding for up to six hours in extreme conditions—whether it's heat, rain, or cold mountain stages. The energy expended in such efforts requires significant recovery, but the body’s resources are often so depleted that its ability to fend off infections is diminished.

The stress of stage racing is not just physical; it’s also mental. Stress, both psychological and physical, is known to weaken the immune system. The pressure to perform, maintain a competitive position in the general classification, and deal with race logistics can all take a toll, leaving riders even more vulnerable to viruses. For someone like João Almeida, whose team is banking on his form, the mental strain combined with the physical exhaustion of racing would have likely further reduced his immunity.

Why Other Sports Are Less Affected by COVID in 2024

While COVID-19 continues to affect professional cycling, other sports seem to have moved on from the pandemic with fewer disruptions. There are several reasons for this discrepancy.

First, the structure and environment of most team sports reduce the likelihood of widespread outbreaks. In football, rugby, or tennis, athletes are not consistently in close contact for extended periods like cyclists are in the peloton. Even in sports where there is physical contact, such as football or basketball, the periods of close proximity are shorter and there are more opportunities to limit the spread of infection.

Second, the scheduling and duration of these sports differ significantly from cycling. Most sports feature single events, matches, or games that last a few hours at most, followed by periods of recovery or downtime. In contrast, cyclists compete for days or weeks at a time in stage races. This continuous exposure to the same group of people—teammates, competitors, staff—increases the risk of viral transmission.

Moreover, many sports have adopted stronger containment protocols, such as regular testing, isolation, and vaccination mandates, making it easier to catch and limit the spread of COVID before it impacts entire teams or leagues. In cycling, while testing is still widespread, the constant travel and interaction with locals and media make containment measures less reliable.

What Can Be Done

As COVID-19 continues to disrupt cycling in 2024, it’s clear that more needs to be done to protect riders and teams. Several potential measures could help minimize the risk of outbreaks and their impact on races.

1. Improved Testing and Isolation Protocols: While testing remains standard in Grand Tours, stricter pre-race and daily testing could be reintroduced to catch infections earlier. In addition, more immediate isolation protocols could help prevent infected riders from spreading the virus to their teammates and the peloton.
2. Media Testing: Grand Tours could adopt stricter rules for journalists attending the races, in a bid to limit the transmission of COVID and other viruses that can impact riders performances.

A Lingering Threat

While other sports have seemingly moved beyond the pandemic, cycling's unique dynamics make it particularly susceptible to viral outbreaks. Whether it’s the constant close contact in the peloton, the immune-compromising effects of endurance racing, or the logistical challenges of long, multi-stage races, the sport faces a particular set of challenges in keeping riders safe.

In a season already marred by COVID-related withdrawals—such as Tom Pidcock and Chris Harper at the 2024 Tour de France—cycling must now confront how to better protect its athletes. The virus may no longer dominate global headlines, but in the world of professional cycling, it’s still very much a part of the race.

It must be said that COVID, like any other virus, is something that riders will unfortunately always have to deal with. It’s an element of luck or bad luck within the peloton that can never be entirely removed. But, more should be done to ensure that cyclists can lower the risks of seeing their races ruined by the lingering virus.