riders will be banned from celebratory hugs with their team mates after races as part of new covid19 protocols introduced this season by cyclings governing body the ucithe ruling appears to be more symbolic than anything else as riders exist in team bubbles and spend the day riding in close proximity in the pelotonas a doctor i can say that the risk of becoming infected by hugging is not particularly high the ucis medical chief xavier bigard said at a uci health and safety seminarhowever it is all about the message we want to send to the world and more specifically to cycling fans namely that it is forbidden to touch other people if we want to stop the virusthere is already a ban for riders to hug and touch each other on the podium common sense tells us that it is therefore wise not to display the same behaviour after the finish