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Vuelta director: Cyclists must adapt to heat
🇩🇰 Denmark /Sports

Vuelta director: Cyclists must adapt to heat

From Berlingske · () Danish

Translated from Danish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News From a news agency Context piece
  • Vuelta a España race director Javier Guillen stated that cyclists must adapt to high temperatures, as heat is an inherent part of the sport.
  • Guillen rejected the idea of rescheduling the race to a later date, emphasizing that the current dates for the Giro, Tour, and Vuelta are appropriate and changing them would endanger the sport's sustainability.
  • He noted that while hail, cold, and slippery roads caused the cancellation of one stage, heat is a factor the race protocols are prepared to handle, drawing on experience from the Tour de France.

Cyclists competing in the Vuelta a España must prepare to face intense heat, with temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) and feeling even hotter. Race director Javier Guillen acknowledged that high temperatures were a significant issue during the recent Tour de France, where riders used various methods to stay cool.

Heat is a part of our sport.

— Javier GuillenVuelta a España race director on the impact of high temperatures during the race.

Despite the approach of autumn, the heat is expected to persist throughout the Vuelta. Guillen asserted that "heat is a part of our sport" and that teams are well-prepared. While acknowledging the risks, he stated, "We take it day by day, and cycling is ready to take place under these conditions." He highlighted the extensive experience gained from past races, including the Tour de France, in managing extreme weather.

We take it day by day, and cycling is ready to take place under these conditions.

— Javier GuillenVuelta a España race director on managing heat during the race.

Guillen firmly dismissed any consideration of moving the Vuelta to a later date in the calendar. He argued that the current scheduling for the Giro d'Italia, Tour de France, and Vuelta a España is optimal. Shifting the dates, he explained, would disrupt fan routines and potentially jeopardize the sport's sustainability, affecting organizers, teams, and riders alike.

If we have to open that debate, it has to be a very long-term and open process. The dates for the Giro, the Tour and the Vuelta are exactly right as they are now.

— Javier GuillenVuelta a España race director on the current scheduling of major cycling tours.

While acknowledging that weather is an integral part of cycling, Guillen pointed out that the race is currently taking place in southern Spain during September, which differs from years when it was held in August. The race has protocols and tools to manage various conditions, including heat, rain, and snow. However, a recent stage was canceled not due to heat, but because of hail, cold, and slippery roads, demonstrating the unpredictable nature of the elements.

If you change the dates, you change many things. You also change the routines of the fans, and we are completely dependent on them.

— Javier GuillenVuelta a España race director on the potential consequences of rescheduling the race.
About this summary

Originally published by Berlingske in Danish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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