Defending champion Tadej Pogacar has to cope with a setback just before the start of the Tour de France.
As his team UAE announced two days before the start, the Italian Matteo Trentin has to miss the race due to a coronavirus infection. The Swiss Marc Hirschi was nominated for Trentin. Trentin should help Pogacar especially on the flat stages and on the cobblestone section next Wednesday. The tour starts in Copenhagen on Friday.
“Although disappointed, he is feeling well and has no symptoms at this time,” the team said. Trentin might even have started. According to the Corona regulations of the world association UCI published on Tuesday, a driver who tests positive may start if he has no symptoms and is not contagious. The final decision lies with the doctors of the UCI and the tour organizer ASO.