In light of La Vuelta Ciclista a España which begins on 26 August, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) would like to issue a reminder of the rules that currently apply for the organisation of road cycling events on the UCI International Calendar in the context of the current risk of infection by the coronavirus, responsible for Covid-19.
All the measures that will be implemented are based on the "Rules to be applied for the organisation of road cycling competitions in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2023", a document published on the UCI website and last updated on 12 January 2023.
The health protocol in force since the start of the 2023 season is considerably lighter than its previous versions to take into account the sharp decline in the Covid-19 pandemic in the vast majority of the world’s regions since the summer of 2022. In addition, the health risks linked to Covid-19 are currently extremely low in the peloton thanks to the cellular immunity induced by the very high vaccination coverage among its members (riders and other team members) and by the infections – that are increasingly mild – they have contracted.
In general, for 2023, the health pass, the vaccination certificate and the negative Covid-19 test prior to participation in competitions are no longer required of teams, UCI staff or members of the organisation. In the run-up to La Vuelta Ciclista a España, the incidence of Covid-19 cases reported in Spain is very low.
The UCI and its partners would like to remind all participants in road races on the UCI International Calendar that the rules introduced over the last three years in the interests of everyone's health and safety should continue to apply. These include maintaining sufficient physical distance from others, frequently disinfecting hands and regularly airing enclosed spaces.
In the event of a case of Covid-19 within a team, confirmed by an antigenic test or by a PCR test (whether it concerns a rider or a member of staff), the decision to isolate and withdraw the rider from the race will be taken collectively by the team doctor concerned, the Covid-19 coordinator for the event and the UCI Medical Director, on the basis of the clinical elements available and the results of the Covid-19 test.