The World Watches As Pro Racing Returns

Face masks, mass testing and interviews via selfie sticks – this is how pro racing looks now, reports Chris Marshall-Bell in Burgos

- Chris Marshall-Bell

Men’s cycling’s long-awaited return from the coronavirus-induced stoppage was hailed a success by riders and teams, raising hopes that the condensed calendar can continue without too many problems.

More than four months after a disrupted Paris-Nice nursed itself to the finish line, the men’s professional peloton, including 14 WorldTour teams, returned to action at the five-stage Vuelta a Burgos in northern Spain. Then, at the weekend, both the men’s and women’s pelotons competed in a sweltering Strade Bianche.

Won by Remco Evenepoel, Deceuninck- Quick Step’s 20-year-old phenomenon, Burgos was a race full of the same occurrences, routines, traditions, and charms, combined with Covid-19 protocols and a hefty dose of caution, especially with case numbers rising across the Continent.

The traveling nature of a stage race means it cannot operate in a bio-secure manner like other sports such as golf and cricket, but measures are taken – including everyone involved in the race from riders and team staff to journalists taking regular Covid-19 tests, the last at least 72 hours before the start – reassured everyone present that only further government-imposed stay-at-home measures should prevent the season from continuing.

Brian Holm, DS at Deceuninck-Quick Step, said: “I cannot see how me being home with all of my friends, without a mask, is safer than being here.

“Why should we ever stop cycling? OK, if there is a total lockdown all over Europe then we have to, but I think it’s safer here than being home. We have to continue.”

There was an air of caution, however, as two riders from Israel Start-Up Nation, including Brit Alex Dowsett, and three Colombians from the UAE-Team Emirates, all left the race after being in recent contact with a positive case. All five returned subsequent negative tests.