“This World Championship will be a test for the peloton’s willingness to be vaccinated” - Jan Bakelants raises concerns over upcoming trip to Rwanda
Cycling
In 2025, the road cycling World Championships head to new ground, with the peloton set to embark on a journey to Rwanda, Africa for the see who can get their hands on the next Rainbow Jersey. According to ex-pro turned expert analyst Jan Bakelants however, the trip might raise issues for some top stars.
A big concern for travellers to the Rwandan region currently, is the Marburg virus disease (MVD) but diseases and illnesses such as Malaria, yellow fever, hepatitis A and B, typhoid, tetanus, diphtheria and more all feature on travel advice warnings across the internet. Whilst a vaccination is not mandatory to enter Rwanda, most national authorities do recommend it before visiting. In the opinion of Bakelants, this is what may push some riders to avoid the next edition of the World Championships.
“This World Championship will be a test for the peloton’s willingness to be vaccinated,” Bakelants says in his analysis for HLN. “Not everyone was happy with the Covid vaccinations a few years ago. Some riders were ill for weeks. That negative experience means that a number of riders will not be eager to get vaccinated again.”
As mentioned, whilst vaccinations are not mandatory, they are recommended. "It seems smarter to do it," says Bakelants. "And then you better do it as soon as possible. Suppose you are two weeks less well today after an injection, then that is not so bad. But if you have that in the spring, or in the run-up to the Tour or just before the World Championship, then you have a problem. At such a moment you really do not want to be five percent less because you got vaccinated at the wrong time."
"It could be a very nice World Championship and you shouldn't scare people too much. It's not like Wout van Aert and Remco Evenepoel are going to trek through the bush and sleep under two banana leaves, the conditions will be okay, but you do have to take precautions," continues the Belgian. "For example, there was an outbreak of the Marburg virus in Kigali recently and that's no laughing matter. So it is better to be careful and take proactive measures."
First-ever road world championships in Africa, on the most challenging course ever in Rwanda. The land of a thousand hills.#Kigali2025 #RidingNewHeights pic.twitter.com/feoiOS0eIr
— 𝗞𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗶 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 (@Kigali2025) October 8, 2024
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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