Saint-Affrique (France) (AFP)
The Route d'Occitanie, the first cycling race in France for nearly five months, starts Saturday under close surveillance: the health protocol governing the resumption of the season one month before the Tour de France imposes unprecedented constraints on the organizers and the teams. who want to avoid another sudden stop of the bike.
The International Cycling Union (UCI) imposes for this "restart" two tests at D-6 and D-3 on all the riders and their staff participating in the World Tour and Pro Series races, the most prestigious on the calendar, and only one at D-3 for lower level ones like the Route d'Occitanie. With possible arrangements in the event of a series of races.
A "bubble" must then be maintained around the teams: the UCI advises in its official protocol to privatize a floor or a wing of the hotels.
The sidelining this week on the Tour de Burgos of riders from the UAE and Israel SN teams in contact with people who have tested positive or suspected, such proves that all players in the world of cycling are aware of running on a thread.
"It's really the sanitary that is important this year", asserts the director of the Route d'Occitanie Romain Caubin despite the presence of a five-star field composed among others of Egan Bernal and Chris Froome.
"Everyone has the feeling of being in the same boat", he notes, stressing the "good consultation with the teams".
He estimates the additional cost for his organization "between 65,000 and 70,000 euros" on a budget which is "between 450,000 and 500,000 euros".
In detail, "mainly hotels, equipment and medical supervision, barriers and security guards".
Indeed, the UCI imposes a "safety distance between spectators and riders" which is also reflected on the Route d'Occitanie by the logical prohibition of selfies and autographs, in addition to Vauban barriers.
It is still too early to quantify the impact of the pandemic for the teams. But Dr Eric Bouvat, medical manager of the AG2R La Mondiale team, evokes a "very, very heavy organization".
The Route d'Occitanie is the first race in which the French team has entered since confinement.
"The sport of cycling is special, we transport hundreds of people from city to city who themselves come from all over the world", draws the doctor who reviews "(s) a copy every day depending on what works or not".
"To be tested, I had to stay an hour in a lab with potentially sick people, wondered Maxime Boué (Arkéa-Samsic) by videoconference on Friday. One can wonder if this is the best solution."
© 2020 AFP