Corona alarm in the team of Tour de France leader Tadej Pogacar: New Zealander George Bennett tested positive for the corona virus on Tuesday and had to give up the race.
At the weekend, the Norwegian Vegard Stake Laengen from Pogacar’s UAE team was already hit. Edelhelfer Rafal Majka also tested positive, but was allowed to continue the race according to the regulations because the Pole is considered to be hardly infectious. The situation at Majka will continue to be monitored, said team doctor Adrian Rotunno.
For Pogacar, however, the situation is anything but pleasant. Only five helpers remain before the difficult high mountain stages. It is questionable how efficient Majka is.
Overall, the tour recorded Corona cases four and five on Tuesday. Australian Luke Durbridge had to drop out before Bennett. Like Bennett, he complained of mild symptoms. At the weekend, three drivers, including the well-placed Frenchman Guillaume Martin, started their journey home after testing positive. After that, on the rest day on Monday, all the mandatory driver tests were negative.
Corona tests were mandatory for the drivers once before the start of the tour in Copenhagen and on the rest days. However, many teams voluntarily have tests carried out in order to detect infections in good time.