The Covid-19 got the better of the quadruple winner of the Tour de France.
Tested positive for Covid-19, Christopher Froome (Israel Premier-Tech) did not start the 18th stage on Thursday between Lourdes and Hautacam, in the Pyrenees.
“A test revealed that I contracted the Covid, so I will not start today.
I am really disappointed not to be able to reach Paris and finish this Tour de France.
It was a special race for the team and also for me personally.
I found my legs… ”said the Briton in a video posted on Twitter.
Unfortunately I won't be taking the start today due to covid-19 😔 #TDF2022 pic.twitter.com/RJziNXG52d
— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) July 21, 2022
His remaining five teammates from the Israel-Premier Tech team are negative for the virus.
Prior to his announcement, Spaniard Imanol Erviti, from the Movistar team, was also declared a non-runner for the 18th stage, as was Damiano Caruso.
Finally tested positive for Covid, the Italian from Bahrain-Victorious training was already suffering from flu-like symptoms.
🏥 Unfortunately, @CarusoDamiano will not start stage 18 of @LeTour following a positive Covid-19 test after showing mild symptoms.
All other riders and staff returned negative tests.
Get well soon Damiano!#RideAsOne #TDF2022
📸 @therussellellis pic.twitter.com/J7kuo2KpPT
— Team Bahrain Victorious (@BHRVictorious) July 21, 2022
All the other riders and staff members of his team have tested negative.
But he is not the first cyclist from Bahrain-Victorious to leave the tour prematurely.
After the fifth stage, Jack Haig was forced to retire, hit in a fall.
On the Movistar side, veteran Imanol Erviti, 38, leaves a team that until then was complete.
In total, 15 riders therefore left the peloton due to Covid-19.
Froome, Caruso and Erviti are added to Wellens, Walscheid, Paret-Peintre, Chérel, Clarke, Cort Nielsen, Barguil, Bennett, Durbridge and Martin.
Before them, Vegard Stake Laengen and Geoffray Bouchard had opened the sad ball of retirements due to illness, before the 8th stage.
As a reminder, testing positive for Covid-19 is not automatically synonymous with expulsion from this Tour de France 2022. Asymptomatic runners may be authorized to continue.