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.
- 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.
- 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.