“It's ridiculous to wear masks when we've been on climbs with fans 10cm away shouting at us” - Carlos Verona hits out at Tour de France's Covid protocol

Riding in his first Grand Tour since moving to Lidl-Trek over the recent off-season, Carlos Verona has been battling away at the 2024 Tour de France without much reward so far. Despite the rising fear of the returning Covid amongst the peloton however, the Spaniard's Tour de France has not been made any more enjoyable by the enforcement of masks within the race.

"I think this is detrimental to cycling. I think we need to turn the page. It's ridiculous to be wearing masks when in the Pyrenees we've been on 15km climbs with fans ten centimetres away shouting at us, cheering us on," Verona laments in conversation with AS. "I don't understand it, I don't agree with it."

The likes of INEOS Grenadiers star Tom Pidcock, key domestique for Tadej Pogacar's UAE Team Emirates Juan Ayuso and Mark Cavendish's superstar leadout man Michael Morkov are all among the ever growing number of riders to abandon the 2024 Tour de France due to a positive Covid test. According to Verona however, it's long past time cycling moved on from concerns over coronavirus.

"If someone thinks it's right, then okay, but we need to turn the page," the 31-year-old former Movistar Team rider adds. "The coronavirus is still there, and it claimed many victims in its time, but the situation is a little more under control and we need to start normalising everything. Masks don't help."

As far as his own Tour de France however, Verona remains upbeat. "The team is very happy with me and that is what matters. You don't race for television or for the image of the spectator, you race for the interests of the team and, of all the Tours I have done, for me, without a doubt, this is the one in which I am performing best," he assesses. "Helping Giulio Ciccone on flat days, in the wind, in the mountains. Being in a breakaway may seem to make me shine more, but the appreciation of the team for the work I do is worth more than all that. I am satisfied and what I am thinking about is giving 100% until the end."