While the UCI has announced extensive sanitation measures for next season's road races requiring riders to hold a vaccination certificate or "health pass" with a negative PCR test before most races, next week's World Cyclocross in Fayetteville, Arkansas The situation is very different at the championships.

While international travelers must present a negative PCR test within 24 hours of travel, there is no rule requiring testing for domestic riders and staff. The UCI guidelines for the World Championships (open in new tab) only require that participants wear masks covering the nose and mouth (with the exception, of course, when athletes are training or racing) and that there be separation between spectators and the team area, and between certified and non-certified personnel.

There is no requirement for negative testing or a team "bubble" before arriving at the venue. However, it is recommended not to take "selfies" with others, to "minimize interpersonal contact during the celebration," to keep a social distance of 2 meters (6 feet), to wear masks properly, and to open windows slightly when driving with others for proper ventilation.

The World Championships are headed to a state where only 52% of residents have been immunized, where COVID-19 cases hit a record high this week and more people than ever have been hospitalized with the virus.

UCI has delegated each team to monitor symptoms and reduce risk. Even the PCR tests required to return to Europe cost as much as $200 per test. [Team doctor Chris van der Meulen told Het Laatste Nieuws that the team will be in a big bubble before heading to the US, with staff and all players conducting two self-tests and a PCR test scheduled within 24 hours of the move on Sunday.

The team will fly from Brussels to Chicago and then to Bentonville, a suburb of Fayetteville, arriving Monday.

"It's about making sure we don't mix with each other as much as possible," he said. We will also continue traditional sanitation measures," Van der Meulen said.

"The team just hopes that we can finish the race and return home without contracting the virus. But we also assume that one of us could be a high-risk contact or, in the worst case scenario, contract an infection. Many routes are available for this and solutions are offered. Of course, we hope that this will not happen."

Dutch national coach Gerben de Knegt was shocked at the lenient conditions. The team has 19 players and seven staff members, all of whom have been vaccinated.

"We will continue to test the positive ones so that they can be immediately removed from the group," de Knegt said. 'It remains a strange situation. We have heard that very few people are wearing masks. I am quite concerned that someone there will catch an infection and miss the race and not be able to fly home."