Four teams at the Tour de France face a nervous week after one staff member at each outfit tested positive for coronavirus. According to the race rules, one more positive result within a week would see the whole team excluded from the race.
All 22 teams set off on the 10th stage after the riders themselves tested negative, with deputy race director Francois Lemarchand waving the flag for racing to commence in place of his boss Christian Prudhomme – who it emerged had also tested positive.
French health authorities and organisers Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) have said that should two members of a team, riders or staff, test positive for the coronavirus the whole outfit will be kicked out of the race.
The International Cycling Union (UCI) and the organisers said in a joint statement that one staff member each from French outfits Cofidis and AG2R-La Mondiale, Britain's Team Ineos and Australia's Mitchelton-Scott contracted the virus.
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Memorable day for UAE Team Emirates
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UAE Team Emirates rider Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia after winning the ninth stage of the Tour de France on September 6. Reuters -
Slovenian rider Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates celebrates his stage victory after the ninth stage of the Tour de France on September 6. EPA -
UAE Team Emirates rider Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia wins the ninth stage. Reuters -
Stage winner UAE Team Emirates rider Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar celebrates as he crosses the finish line at the end of the 9th stage of the Tour de France. AFP -
UAE Team Emirates rider Tadej Pogacar on Sunday. Reuters -
Norwegian rider Alexander Kristoff of UAE Team Emirates wears a protective face mask before the start of the 9th stage of the Tour de France on Sunday. EPA -
UAE Team Emirates rider Davide Formolo leads the escapees during the 9th stage . AFP -
UAE Team Emirates rider Davide Formolo leads the escapees on Sunday. AFP -
Slovenian rider Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates wears a protective face mask before the start of the 9th stage of the Tour de France. EPA -
UAE Team Emirates riders wear protective face masks before the start of the 9th stage of the Tour de France. EPA -
UAE Team Emirates rider Tadej Pogacar secured his first stage win at the Tour de France.. AFP
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"One of our staffers tested positive, they were tested the day before yesterday (Sunday), and we took all the necessary measures immediately," said AG2R-La Mondiale team manager Vincent Lavenu.
"The person went home. They're a very cautious person and they were hit by bad luck."
A fourth round of testing for all teams is scheduled to take place in the next rest day in Isere on September 14.
The organisers said race director Prudhomme would leave the race for a week. Another concern was that French Prime Minister Jean Castex rode in the Tour director's car for part of Saturday's stage.
Castex's office said he would be tested for the virus.
Meanwhile, Ireland's Sam Bennett put on a burst of power to win the 10th stage of the Tour de France on Tuesday, a 168.5-km ride from the Ile d'Oleron to the Ile de Re.
Slovenian Primoz Roglic retained the overall leader's yellow jersey
