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No cases of heat exhaustion at the World Championships

UCI president Brian Cookson defended the choice of Doha as host for the World Road Championships, saying despite apparent evidence to the contrary there had been no cases of heat-stroke so far

“We have not had any cases of heat exhaustion or heat stroke, as I’ve been advised by the medical team. We’ve had plenty of cases of exhaustion, plenty of cases of riders being extremely fatigued, which you get at any World Championships, but no actual cases of heat exhaustion, so I’m advised by our medical team,” Cookson said.

Videos and photos published in the media showed riders looking very distressed in the heat in recent days. 

“We have a contingency plan in place but it is just that: a contingency plan. As at this moment in time, it doesn’t look like it will be needed. The full distance will be raced.”, saud Cookson.

“Some riders have said some positive things as well; we should bear that in mind. Obviously this is a part of the world where cycling is not an immediately popular sport, but I think we’ll see a good crowd on Sunday. It is what it is. We’re here.

“I don’t think we’re going to be in the Gulf every two or three years for the World Championships but let’s make an appraisal at the end of the week. We’ve got to bear in mind it’s not just about spectators on the ground, but about television images and the television audience as well.”

Belgian rider Enzo Wouters collapsed in the U23 Road Race

Wouters collapsed after racing for three and half hours in the U23 road race

According to Sporza, Wouters' core temperature rose to 40 degrees centigrade, the point where the body cannot cool itself and results in heatstroke or a coma.

Doctors reduced his temperature using ice and fluids.

"Immediately after the finish they poured water over me and placed ice on me, even though I was already shivering," Wouters joked. "Anyway, I can't remember anything that happened after the finish."

Wouters' teammate, Guillaume Seye, alerted medics who tended to him.

"During the race I felt myself becoming weaker. Especially in the final, I just noticed that I could no longer keep my heart rate down. Normally, you can always recover a bit after the turns, but now it did not."

The temperatures in Doha can rise in the day to temperatures that overseas athletes aren't accustomed to. There has been calls to hold the championships later in the year when it's cooler. The UCI indicated it would shorten races if the temperatures rose too much.

Some riders were critical of the race, after the women's team time trial on Sunday

Wouters has subsequently made a full recovery and is due to return to Belgium shortly.

Belgian rider Enzo Wouters collapses at the Worlds in Doha

Norwegian Rider Iver Knotten collapsed whilst riding the Junior Road Race

Norwegian Iver Knotten was seen pulling over to the side of the road and collapsing at yesterdays Men's Junior Road Race. 

More traumatic is that the footage goes on to show Knotten visibily shaking or fitting due to heat exhaustion.

Norway’s team staff have stated the cause of the collapse was a combination of dehydration and exhaustion, but the footage show's severe trauma.

The temperatures in Doha can rise in the day to temperatures that overseas athletes aren't accustomed to. There has been calls to hold the championships later in the year when it's cooler. The UCI indicated it would shorten races if the temperatures rose too much.

Some riders were critical of the race, initially after the women's team time trial last Sunday.

Meanwhile, were please to report that, the Norwegian Cycling Federation announced that Knotten has recovered and is ok.

Despite the organisers of the World Championships insisting that the heat is not in the “danger zone,” many riders are worried about their safety in the heat of the desert in Qatar.

Norwegian Rider Iver Knotten collapses whilst riding the Worlds Junior Road Race

Belgian rider Enzo Wouters collapses at the Worlds in Doha