The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) clarifies the terms of the Covid-19 health protocol that will apply to the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, the first edition of which will take place from 24 to 31 July.
The same measures that already apply to all men’s and women’s stage races lasting seven days or more will be implemented for Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. These provisions are set out in the "Rules to be applied for the organisation of road cycling competitions in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic", which was published on the UCI website on 21 January 2022 (and updated on 24 June 2022 for the Grand Tours).
The UCI reminds that this health protocol was drawn up by a steering group under the responsibility of the UCI Medical Director – Professor Xavier Bigard – and composed of representatives of riders, teams, team doctors and organisers.
In order to enter the team bubble during the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, concerned persons will have to present a negative PCR test dating back to less than two days, regardless of them being vaccinated or not. This requirement will apply to riders, team and UCI staff, Commissaires, anti-doping officials and medical teams.
During the event, the riders will benefit from a rigorous follow-up (with daily questionnaires and clinical assessments) by their team doctor. Any suspicious case will be reported by the latter to the Covid-19 doctor for the event. Isolation measures will be implemented and any decision to withdraw a rider from the event will be made on the basis of the available clinical and biological evidence, in accordance with current recommended medical "best practices" in the context of this pandemic.
The full "Rules to be applied for the organisation of road cycling competitions in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic " is available here.
The UCI and its partners remind all concerned parties that the rules introduced over the last two years in the interest of everyone's health and safety continue to apply. These include the obligation to wear a mask, to maintain sufficient physical distance and to disinfect hands frequently. These measures are particularly important in the current context with a new wave of infections.