The shadow of the COVVI-19 hovers over the 109ᵉ edition of the Tour de France, whose departure is given Friday in Copenhagen. The teams ensure taking the maximum precautions in front of the coronavirus.
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How many runners will leave the roads of the Tour de France (from 1 er to July 24) before its term, touched by the COVVI-19? After two last editions shaken by the coronavirus, the cycling test will have to compose with its resurgence. Several runners have already paid the price, including the Italian Matteo Trentin, replaced by the Swiss Marc Hirschi within the close guard of Tadej Pogacar at Uae Emirates, or the French Bryan Coquard (Cofidis), whose package was Announced Thursday, June 30. A disturbing situation a few hours before the big departure, given Friday in the streets of Copenhagen.
Also concerned by the withdrawal of a positive tested runner at the virus -the Belgian Tim Declercq, replaced Tuesday by the very recent French champion, Florian Sénéchal -, the Quick -Step Alpha Vinyl team ensures multiplying the precautions. “We must be constantly attention, said on Wednesday at Tom Steels press conference, a former runner who became a sports director of Belgian training. The risk is everywhere and the restrictions are no longer the same as those of the last two years. I apologize In advance with spectators for our attitude towards them, but the Tour de France is too important a race for us. “
To limit their exhibition, many runners also preferred to give up playing their national championships on June 26. This is particularly the case of the headliners of the Groupama-FDJ, David Gaudu and Thibaut Pinot, hit by the COVID-19 at the end of the Tour de Switzerland (from June 12 to 21) and now fully restored. “We have chosen not to make Thibaut Pinot and David Gaudu run to take no risk, given the health situation,” their sports director, Benoît Vaugrenard, told the Regional Daily Regional Ouest-France.
A strategy also adopted by Romain Bardet (DSM). Very straddling health protocols after having contracted several viruses in recent months, the Auvergne climber was worried on social networks when flying away for Denmark. “Embarking on a crowded plane for the big start when 90 % of passengers do not wear the mask. First stress test. The tour is on,” he twists on Tuesday.
increased vigilance, but Deputy regulations
Conscious of the risk of accelerated propagation of the virus within the peloton, the Union International Cycling (UCI) has announced an increase in vigilance, in A press release published Tuesday . A positive decision according to the runners. “It’s logical! As a team, we also take our precautions and have, I think, found a good way to protect us. I feel safe,” said Kasper Asgreen in front of the press. “The team doctor notably reminded me a few weeks ago that we did not experience a big cluster within the group, so this is proof of our seriousness,” wants to believe the Danish roller.
The position of the UCI is however with variable geometry. The world organ has announced the possibility for asymptomatic runners to continue the Tour de France according to their state of form. “This is good news, but that does not change our vision of the subject. If we are faced with this scenario, we will preserve above all the health of the runner,” says Tom Steels.
All smiles at the #TDF2022 Team Presentation 😁
Photo: @Beelwout https://t.co/1ldhgkoirj
The UCI also renounced a payment point which provided for the compulsory abandonment of a team as soon as two or more runners were contaminated over a period of seven days, as during the Grande loop 2020. The catastrophic scenario Known on the Tour of Switzerland, where half of the commitments had to abandon, should therefore be avoided.
Vigilance remains, however, in a tense sanitary context, but the message seems very clear: even if some runners leave, the show must go on.