It was reported that athletes on the Lotto Soudal team have been tested for antibodies to COVID-19. This will allow the Belgian team to know which riders are infected with the virus and need further medical checks before they begin full-scale training and racing.

According to Het Nieuwsblad, several riders underwent blood tests at the Ghent Energy Lab on Friday morning in the presence of team doctor Jens De Decker.

"If the players came into contact with the coronavirus and developed antibodies, we definitely want to know," De Decker told the Belgian newspaper.

"It is not yet 100 percent scientifically proven, but the coronavirus can affect heart function. As a precautionary measure, we will be performing special cardiovascular screening on athletes who have antibodies in their bodies."

"This applies to our team, but other team doctors are of the same opinion. Riders are top athletes and demand a lot from their bodies. We want to avoid all risks.

DeDecker said that all the tests done on Friday were negative, but that statistically it could be positive.

"About 6% of the Belgian population already has antibodies in their bodies. That means two out of a total of 28 riders," he said.

Despite a population of only 11 million, Belgium has seen more than 50,000 COVID-19 cases and nearly 9,000 deaths have been reported. The country is on lockdown, but cyclists are allowed to train outdoors.

Representatives from UCI and other stakeholders have established a steering group to work on medical protocols to protect the health of riders.

Under the authority of Professor Xavier Bigard, UCI Medical Director, this group will define what special actions will be taken when races resume and during training camps. This is expected to include rules for social distancing and medical checks; other sports attempting to return to competition during the COVID-19 pandemic are undergoing similar testing.

"The medical plan has two important objectives: to reduce the risk of returning to training after an extended absence and to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading among athletes and staff," Trek Segafredo physician Gaetano Daniele recently explained to Tuttobiciweb. (Open in new tab)

"Before planning a training camp, it is suggested that COVID-19 testing and antibody testing be conducted to determine if riders and staff are or have been infected with the virus. If riders are determined to be a health risk due to the virus, they will undergo more detailed checks on their lungs and heart. These must be done by July 31 and must be done before returning to racing.