Should riders already get vaccinated for the World Championships in Rwanda? "Logistically, that will be a challenge"

The World Championships in Zurich are only two months behind us, but the World Championships in Rwanda are already keeping people busy. In addition to the challenging course, cycling federations have to consider off-course dangers: vaccinations are supposed to protect riders from various diseases, and the question is whether they should start the process already.

"This World Championship will be a test to see how prepared the peloton is to be vaccinated," opens Het Laatste Nieuws analyst Jan Bakelants about the September 2025 World Championships. "The COVID vaccinations of a few years ago did not please everyone. Some riders were sick from it for weeks. That negative experience means some riders will not be eager to get vaccinated again." The World Championships creates several problems: due to the enormous financial requirements, several countries have already announced they are reducing their selections.

"So maybe it is better to do it as soon as possible," argues the former Belgian rider. "Suppose you're not feeling as good today for two weeks after a shot; that's not so bad. But if you have that for the spring, before the Tour, or right before the World Championships, then you have a problem. At that time, you don't want to drop five percent in performance because you got vaccinated at the wrong time."

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Jan Bakelants has already been to Rwanda and knows the risks.

Selection uncertain, but still get vaccinated? It's tricky

Thanks to the vaccinations, riders will not only be protected during the world championships. "Most of these vaccines remain effective for 10 years, some even for life," says Belgian federation doctor Kris Van der Mieren. "I'm going to advise as many people as possible to get their shots now - because that's when the sporting consequences are the smallest. Logistically, that will be a challenge." After all, riders, coaches, and staff members need to be vaccinated.

One obstacle is that selections are not made until just before the event. Should you get vaccinated if you do not have to trek to Rwanda? "I think we can assume that Remco (Evenepoel, ed.) will be in the selection if he is healthy, but we also have guys in the team who are kind of hovering in between," says Toon Cruyt, team doctor for Soudal Quick-Step. "What do we do with them? We are also going to put this on our agenda."

Read more below the photo!

A course for him, but never selected yet: what should Ilan Van Wilder do?

Bakelants hopeful, but warns of dangers

Bakelants was in Rwanda earlier this year for his work as a cycling analyst. He hopes teams, unions, and riders will take the risks seriously. "It can be a beautiful World Championships, and you shouldn't scare people excessively. It's not like Wout van Aert and Remco Evenepoel will hike through the wilderness and sleep under two banana leaves. The conditions will be okay, but you have to take precautions. Recently, in Kigali, for example, there has been an outbreak of the Marburg virus (similar to Ebola, ed.), which is not something to joke about."

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