A second rider from the UAE team, that of the yellow jersey Tadej Pogacar, was forced to abandon the Tour de France on Tuesday due to Covid-19. New Zealander George Bennett tested positive and followed the same fate as Norwegian Vegard Stake Laengen on Saturday. The noose is tightening around the Slovenian prodigy, leader of the general classification, which only has 6 members left.
While the tests carried out on Sunday evening on the entire peloton had proved negative, two riders had the opposite result on Tuesday. Australian Luke Durbridge (BikeExchange), who has mild symptoms, also had to leave the race. On the other hand, the Pole Rafal Majka, one of Pogacar’s lieutenants in the mountains, received the green light to continue the race.
“In accordance with our internal protocols, he was tested for Covid-19 and returned a positive result this morning. He is asymptomatic and analysis of his PCR revealed that he had a very low risk of infectiousness, similar to the case of Bob Jungels earlier in the race“, explained Dr. Adrian Rotunno, UAE team doctor. “As per protocol, we reported it to the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) medical team this morning, who cleared Rafal to start just before the start of the race.“, added the doctor, specifying: “We are aware that Rafal’s clinical picture may change and we are closely monitoring his situation..”
“The Covid can turn ruin”
In addition to the regulatory checks carried out by the UCI, the various teams frequently carry out internal tests. Every day for some, at intervals of two to three days for others. “We test ourselves every three days, some even every two days“said Pogacar on Saturday after leaving Laengen.”It is truly a worrying situation. The Covid can ruin everything in the Tour.”
“This pandemic is here and unfortunately we are not spared“, estimated the yellow jersey and favorite of the Tour. “We can’t risk running sick, so we have to take this seriously. We are on the road every day. In the mountains, there are many people shouting encouragement. It’s something that I really like but it increases the possibilities of getting infected with the virus..”
Following the cascade of abandonments recorded at the Tour de Suisse in mid-June, the anti-Covid protocol was updated before the start of the Tour by the International Cycling Union (UCI). In case of positivity, the protocol provides that “the decision on possible isolation (be) taken collectively by the doctor of the team concerned, the Covid-19 doctor of the event and the medical director of the UCI“.
Closure of access to the paddock
For “fight more effectively“against the Covid-19, the organizers decided on Tuesday to close access to the teams’ paddock, the place where the riders’ buses are installed.Only UCI representatives (jury, commissaires, anti-doping agents), team staff, and organizational staff supervising the teams will now have access to it.“, specified the management of the Tour. Representatives of the media and guests of the various teams, who could enter the paddock until today, will no longer be able to do so.
Before the start in Copenhagen, Tour director Christian Prudhomme had urged Tour riders to avoid autographs and selfies. But, in the Tour, wearing a mask is only compulsory for those accredited who approach the riders. “There is a discrepancy between life in general, with people putting the Covid a little behind, and the need to be more careful on the Tour“, admitted the director of the Tour on Monday during the rest day.