Astana doctor warns of extreme heat wave at the Tour after Longo Borghini's scare: 'It can be fatal'

The extreme heat wave in Europe has clearly taken its toll. Professional cyclists have had a very tough time at the National Championships, and it may be set to get worse at an extremely grueling and sunny Tour de France. A team doctor from XDS Astana is sounding the alarm, as the heat is becoming an increasingly serious danger in cycling.

It was also incredibly hot during the Tour de Suisse. For example, we saw Mathieu van der Poel get fined by the UCI for not wearing his jersey in the hot seat after his time trial. But Elisa Longo Borghini had a much tougher time one day. The queen stage was already grueling with plenty of elevation gain, but the temperatures made it even more difficult.

And the Italian champion had a very tough time. She attacked early on, but then watched her competitors pull away one by one. She finished in Villars-sur-Ollon nearly ten minutes behind winner Marlen Reusser. Afterward, she remembered very little about the climb. It’s reminiscent of sunstroke, or even heatstroke, the next stage of such a condition.

According to Dr. Emilio Magni, the sports world needs to face reality. “We have to acknowledge that these climate changes are no longer just talk, but reality,” the Italian tells Bici.Pro. “That’s why sporting events should also take them into account. There are protocols for extreme conditions, but in some cases, extreme conditions have become the norm here.”

Of course, you can take certain measures. “The first thing you need to do is, of course, stay very well hydrated, because your body needs to be able to make optimal use of its water reserves. Next, follow a light diet that doesn’t overload your body, since it’s focused on other things during certain stages. And then there are the usual precautions: wear an ice vest before the stages, and during the race, use more ice and replenish fluids regularly.”

But that isn’t always enough. Especially with rising temperatures, the heat is becoming increasingly difficult to combat. "If you remove the conditions that cause the symptoms, everything stops. But if, as we said, you remain exposed to these environmental factors, it’s clear that heat exhaustion can progress to heatstroke, which is a true medical emergency. In short, heatstroke can even be fatal.”

And the cyclists themselves ride without brakes. “The problem with our beloved cyclists is that they belong to that category of animals who, during a race, think of nothing but racing. Just watch them when they fall: their first concern is to get back on their bikes. In soccer, on the other hand, even a slight bump to the ankle is enough to keep them sidelined for as long as necessary.’