Effects of coronavirus on professional races

[bajbar]

Here is the thing. For the virus to spread succesfuly you either need a close contact that lasts more than just a couple of seconds or a closed space where air is not flowing like outside. So the chances of a spectator standing (or running) by the course geting a cyclist infected are very very small (unless someone caughed directly into a riders face). I agree that they should close the start and finish areas for massive crowds. Small amount of people shouldn't be a problem. A lot of tourist destnations (beaches etc.) have been filling up for two months now and I don't see why 200 spectators of a race would be more likely to spread the virus than 2000 people on the beach... so as long as the keep the riders in their "bubbles" racing should go forward. Because it is inevitable that the amount of cases will go up. The decrease in May-June was due to the total lockdown in March-April. But I think a lot of countries realised that repeating that scenario would be utopical and far more harmful than the virus itself. So I think that even if the number of cases rises again (in a controled fashion ofcourse), they shouldn't just stop everything again. They have protocols in place and I believe that it is enough to keep the racing going.

 

[Pantani_lives]

So the chances of a spectator standing (or running) by the course geting a cyclist infected are very very small (unless someone caughed directly into a riders face). A lot of tourist destnations (beaches etc.) have been filling up for two months now and I don't see why 200 spectators of a race would be more likely to spread the virus than 2000 people on the beach... so as long as the keep the riders in their "bubbles" racing should go forward.

The chance of spectators infecting a rider might not be so big, but the chance of spectators infecting each other is very big.

 

[RedheadDane]

I suppose we can only hope that spectators - especially in countries like Belgium - love cycling so much that they'll stay away.

 

[yaco]

The chance of spectators infecting a rider might not be so big, but the chance of spectators infecting each other is very big.

Silly argument - Spectators who are the community can infect each other every day Doubt a cycling race with limited spectators will cause a rash of infections.

 

[Sciatic]

Silly argument - Spectators who are the community can infect each other every day Doubt a cycling race with limited spectators will cause a rash of infections.

Let’s hope that race crowds do remain limited, as it looked at Strade Bianche. But the short video clip of the Tour d ‘Ain stage 1 finish looked like a typical finish line crowd. Even if the odds of outdoor transmission are very low, standing shoulder to shoulder ( and people leaning over your shoulder) for an hour or more along finish line barricades would seem to up the odds a bit. Unless it turns out outdoor transmission isn’t possible at all.

 

[IndianCyclist]

The virus is highly infectious but if just by standing next to an infected person, one would get it , the cases would be incredibly higher. First the virus has to come out of the body in sufficient quantities through either coughing, sneezing or (loud) talking/screaming which is an occasional event. As long as social distancing & face protection(mask Shield) is used, i believe everybody can be safe and the virus can be eliminated.

 

[BlueRoads]

Did you read anything about the WC? According to radsport-news it's in high danger to get cancelled (placed in spring)?

 

[RedheadDane]

Did you read anything about the WC? According to radsport-news it's in high danger to get cancelled (placed in spring)?

Let's hope not.
Besides - assuming we're back to a normal schedule next year - it's not like there's a big gaping hole in the calendar during the spring season...

 

[BlueRoads]

Everything's coming so fast... we need a Dauphiné-thread!

 

[RedheadDane]

Everything's coming so fast... we need a Dauphiné-thread!

Then... make it!

 

[The Hegelian]

Everything's coming so fast... we need a Dauphiné-thread!

Way too fast.

I think the compressed calender highlights for me that a lot of the joy is in the anticipation/build up. They would have been better off getting rid of 50% of the races, and allowing more focus on whatever remained.

 

[Armchair cyclist]

Eurosport reporting, in Piemont commentary, that the World Championships have been cancelled, Swiss govt insistence.

Will they dust off the UAE plan?
Edit: Apparently not: Lappartient says they are looking for a similar parcours in Europe for the same date.

 

[Jspear]

Has there been an up in cases were the races that have taken place so far have been?

 

[Pantani_lives]

Eurosport reporting, in Piemont commentary, that the World Championships have been cancelled, Swiss govt insistence.

Will they dust off the UAE plan?
Edit: Apparently not: Lappartient says they are looking for a similar parcours in Europe for the same date.

France and Northern Italy are probably the best candidates, but we'll have to wait.

 

[Nirvana]

France is going the spanish way, that are the daily new cases the past week:

Mon 785
Tue 1.397
Wed 2.524
Thu 2.669
Fri 2.846
Sat 3.310
Sun 3.015


The previous week the daily figures were around 1.500/2.000, two weeks ago just above 1.000.

 

[Koronin]

France is going the spanish way, that are the daily new cases the past week:

Mon 785
Tue 1.397
Wed 2.524
Thu 2.669
Fri 2.846
Sat 3.310
Sun 3.015


The previous week the daily figures were around 1.500/2.000, two weeks ago just above 1.000.

That's not good.

I have friends in Spain who are fully convinced they are headed for another full lock down.

 

[hayneplane]

That's not good.

I have friends in Spain who are fully convinced they are headed for another full lock down.

The way their infection rates are going it seems likely that will happen.

 

[Koronin]

The way their infection rates are going it seems likely that will happen.

The fact that they did a more targeted restrictions when 3 areas had flair ups they may not due a full nation wide lock down again, but I do think they'll put more restrictions in place and definitely targeted restrictions.

 

[postmanhat]

The number of cases is worrying, but could be explained by a higher level of testing. Certainly that's the case here in The UK.

Aren't hospital admissions a more important indicator?

Again, here in the UK, more younger people are catching the virus now, but hospital admissions remain low as they are less likely to develop the worse symptons

 

[SafeBet]

The number of cases is worrying, but could be explained by a higher level of testing. Certainly that's the case here in The UK.

Aren't hospital admissions a more important indicator?

Again, here in the UK, more younger people are catching the virus now, but hospital admissions remain low as they are less likely to develop the worse symptons

Same in Italy.
Full lockdown is an option only if hospitals start suffering again. Until the number of critical cases stays low the situation is manageable.

 

[Koronin]

The number of cases is worrying, but could be explained by a higher level of testing. Certainly that's the case here in The UK.

Aren't hospital admissions a more important indicator?

Again, here in the UK, more younger people are catching the virus now, but hospital admissions remain low as they are less likely to develop the worse symptons

In the US currently it's those younger people who are the ones putting pressure on the hospital systems. Also hospitalizations and then deaths are lagging indicators.

 

[hayneplane]

France has had sharply rising cases and now 3 successive days of rising hospital figures.

This virus seems to seize on any lapses in vigilance and can ramp up rapidly before the figures start to show the problem then in real terms the damage is already being set in motion.

 

[IndianCyclist]

I donot think it will stop as the community spread and asymptomatic people are in huge number. Here in couple of cities, serological tests are indicating 25-50% people have antibodies. This means it will progress to herd immunity and survival of the fittest. This is a social disease i.e. a person will most likely spread to their relatives and acquaintances resulting in suffering and loss. The only way is to wear mask, face shield, practice hygiene till herd immunity is achieved ( probably till mid next year) to avoid transmission to the vulnerable. Even if there is 90% compliance with mask, and the disease is eliminated in a country, some non compliant idiot will come from outside and it starts all over again(eg. New Zealand).

 

[Pantani_lives]

I wonder if ASO and UCI are well enough prepared for possible problems at the Tour. What will they do if someone has a positive corona test, e.g. someone who works for a team? With the rising numbers in France I'm still not too confident that all the stages will actually take place...

Meanwhile Hugo Houle from Astana had an asymptomatic positive and went into quarantine...

 

[Nirvana]

Lappartient a couple of weeks ago said that they have to pull out only the positive.

Anyway the real problem is how much the virus is spreading outside the "bubble" and how much people didn't give a f**k about masks and social distancing, just look at the celebration of the PSG win on the Champs Eliseé for reference.