"Tadej Pogacar got Covid two weeks before the Tour de France and is now immune" - Merijn Zeeman believes virus concerns are benefit to Visma's big rival

Covid has returned to the peloton with a bang at the 2024 Tour de France, taking out a number of big name riders such as Tom Pidcock and Juan Ayuso, whilst the likes of Geraint Thomas among others continue on despite testing positive. According to Team Visma | Lease a Bike sports director Merijn Zeeman however, the virus concerns won't bother Maillot Jaune Tadej Pogacar, giving the Slovenian another advantage in the fight for yellow.

"In other sports, they will think we are crazy, because we are still testing for corona and wearing masks," says Team Visma | Lease a Bike sports director Zeeman in conversation with NOS about the growing concern of Covid amongst those within the peloton. "But cycling is about endurance. If you get an infection, you simply perform less."

The fact a growing number of riders are testing positive and therefore performing to a lesser standard or being forced out of the race altogether is a very real concern for teams and their sponsors. This is especially true for Team Visma | Lease a Bike as their leader, Jonas Vingegaard was in intensive care just a few months ago after suffering a punctured lung in a horrific crash at the Itzulia Basque Country earlier in the year.

"That's why we're taking precautions," Zeeman explains, noting how despite the team doing all they can, the lingering threat remains active. "That way, you reduce the chance of infection with corona or another virus. But of course, you can't rule out the risk. We're just being careful."

Despite Team Visma | Lease a Bike's main rivals, UAE Team Emirates having had a positive test within the team in the form of Juan Ayuso however, Zeeman doesn't see the same concern for Tadej Pogacar. "What happened to Pogacar is actually the best thing," Zeeman concludes jokingly. "He got corona two weeks before the Tour and is now immune. He can be very relaxed, while the rest are stressed."