Two riders in the 109th Tour de France tested positive in the mandatory corona tests of the UCI, the world cycling association. The UCI announced this, but did not name the professionals.
“The drivers concerned do not belong to the top 20 in the overall classification,” the statement said. Both drivers are “completely asymptomatic” and can therefore possibly continue the tour. The decision will be made on Tuesday morning.
Tour continuation possible after positive tests
Due to a relaxation of the Corona regulations decided shortly before the tour, positive drivers do not necessarily have to be taken out of the race. For this they must be asymptomatic and non-contagious.
The rule has been applied twice so far. Luxembourg’s Bob Jungels, who tested positive shortly before the tour, was allowed to start and later won the ninth stage. The Pole Rafal Majka, the most important helper of defending champion Tadej Pogacar, was allowed to continue the race despite a positive test last Tuesday.
According to a team spokesman on Monday, all of the latest tests at the German racing team Bora-hansgrohe were negative.
Broken rib: Fuglsang gets out
Meanwhile, the Dane Jakob Fuglsang had to drop out of the Tour de France a day after his spectacular crash on Sunday’s stage 15.
The driver of the Israel-Premier Tech team suffered a broken rib in the accident. This was revealed by the X-ray examination.
Fuglsang originally wanted to continue despite the injury, but then decided to give up after a meeting with his team’s medical department. “I’ve driven on with a broken rib before,” said the 37-year-old: “But in this case there is nothing left for me to win, so it certainly makes more sense to recover from the injury in peace.“
Also dropping out is Danish rider Michael Morkov from Team Quick Step Alpha Vinyl.
This means that 151 of the 176 drivers who originally started are still in the field. All nine Germans are still there.