No resumption of the Covid on the Tour, but... While the peloton is stopped for a deserved 24-hour rest before Tuesday's stage between Carcassonne and Foix (Ariège), the Covid-19 does not seem to have resumed his progress within the peloton.
Thus, this Monday, the UCI, the International Cycling Union, announces that no positive case has been detected.
Even if two runners have to undergo further examination.
The tests were carried out on Sunday evening before the riders observed their rest day in the Aude.
In its press release, the UCI specifies that the two riders concerned are not in the top 20 of the general classification of the event.
The latter, who show no symptoms, have been placed in solitary confinement as a precaution.
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A week ago, on the previous rest day, when cases seemed to be increasing within the peloton, there were no additional patients announced.
However, in the days that followed, several runners had to forfeit because of the virus.
In particular the Frenchman Warren Barguil, who threw in the towel on Friday, before the start of the 13th stage.
The International Federation also insists on the fact that “the rules put in place for two years in the interest of everyone’s health and safety continue to apply.
These include the obligation to wear a mask, to maintain sufficient physical distance and to disinfect your hands frequently”.
Fear on the Tour
While the Grande Boucle started on July 1 from Copenhagen in the midst of the 7th wave of Covid, many observers are wondering, even if the epidemic peak has passed in France, if this edition of the Tour de France 2022 is not simply in danger.
Because by July 21, and the arrival of the race on the Champs-Élysées, the virus could circulate at will within the peloton.
Especially since for the moment, the authorities are not announcing a return to health restrictions in the face of this resurgence of Covid-19.
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).
The tests are compulsory before the start and during the two rest days of the event in Morzine and Carcassonne, riders and team personnel included.
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In the event of a positive result, the protocol provides that “the decision on possible isolation will be taken collectively by the doctor of the team concerned, the Covid-19 doctor for the event and the medical director of the UCI”.