Tour de France organizers have developed a new COVID-19 protocol for this year's race to limit the risk of infection within the peloton. Riders, team staff, and officials will wear face masks during sign-on and in the team paddock, and riders will be prohibited from signing in.

The new COVID-19 protocol was first revealed by Reuters, and similar strict rules were introduced on Sunday at the first stage of the Criterium du Dauphiné.

Cycling News was informed, as were other media and officials, that face masks would be mandatory at the start and finish of the race. ASO, the organizer of the Tour de France, told Cyclingnews that it had not yet released information on the Tour de France's COVID-19 protocol, but all ASO staff wore face masks at the Criterium du Dauphiné.

Races and teams are obligated to follow the limited UCI COVID-19 protocol, which was created in January when COVID-19 cases declined. However, a number of recent cases at the Giro d'Italia, including Remco Evenpole testing positive for COVID-19 while leading the race, appear to have raised alarm bells among race organizers and teams.

The riders and staff were allowed out of their hotels last year and access to the team paddock at the start of the stage was open to the media and thousands of VIP guests until midway through the 2022 race, when organizers protected the riders to "fight the spread of COVID-19" The decision was made to.

According to Reuters, the Tour will start in Bilbao on June 29, and while access to the team paddock will be allowed, everyone will be required to wear face masks and follow other COVID-19 rules.

"Do not get too close to spectators - social distancing, selfies and autographs are not allowed," the document seen by Reuters said.

"For all team members: limit interaction outside the race bubble. No eating out. Social distancing at the hotel."

While there are few COVID-19 obligations across Europe, riders and teams have begun to be more cautious since the Giro d'Italia incident. At the start of the opening stage of the Dauphiné, riders and officials wore face masks.

"I don't mind if it protects my health," said David Gaudoux, leader of Groupama-FDJ. 'I'd rather wear a face mask than have everyone freak out because of a COVID-19 outbreak or have athletes get stuck because of COVID-19.'

Julien Alaphilippe (Soudal-Quick Step) also agrees with the protocol. He told l'Equipe that he was the only one wearing a face mask on the flight to central France for the Criterium du Dauphiné.

"I'm still cautious. Maybe too much, but I have to continue to be cautious. It is better than missing the Tour de France," Alaphilippe told a French sports newspaper.

"Cycling remains the only sport that requires a lot of control, and we have to stay in the bubble so we don't lock ourselves at home in July and throw away the sacrifices we have made."

"Maybe the measures are too heavy, but we really want to get on the tools."