Two riders face further Covid testing at Tour de France, top 20 not affected
150 riders cleared to begin second week of racing, two riders test results being sent for further examination


The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to The Pick. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Two riders face further Covid testing after the whole Tour de France peloton underwent testing on Sunday evening. 150 riders tested negative on the lateral flow tests, and so are free to continue.
The UCI released a statement saying that, similar to the last rest day, all riders were tested the day before the second rest day. The statement confirmed that all tests were negative, with the exception of two riders who have had their test results sent for further examination on a biological basis.
However, the two riders in question are outside the top 20 of the race’s overall classification.
On Sunday evening, all riders were immediately tested after the stage which ended with Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) taking the win.
The statement in full read: “In accordance with the "Rules for the organisation of road cycling competitions in the context of the coronavirus pandemic" established by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and recently updated for the Grand Tours, all riders participating in the Tour de France were tested on the evening of 17 July, the day before the rest day.
While the two riders undergoing further testing are completely asymptomatic, security measures (isolation of the two riders) have been implemented to protect the other participants.
A final decision on their participation in the remainder of the event will be taken by tomorrow morning in a collegial manner by the concerned parties (Covid-19 event and team doctors, and the UCI Medical Director).
In order to combat the spread of Covid-19 in the most effective way, the organiser (ASO) of the Tour de France announced on 12 July that access to the teams’ paddocks is only allowed to UCI representatives, team staff and staff within the race organisation.
The UCI reminds all participants that the rules introduced over the last two years in the interests 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 hands frequently.”
Last week, Rafał Majka (UAE Team Emirates) was the second rider to return a positive test mid-race and then cleared to continue by the UCI medical director. Before the Tour de France got underway in Copenhagen, Bob Jungels (AG2R Citroën) tested positive for the virus but was cleared to begin racing. Jungels later won stage nine that finished in Châtel.
Over the weekend, Magnus Cort Nielsen (EF Education- EasyPost) and Simon Clarke (Israel-PremierTech) were pulled from the race by their respective teams after returning positive tests for Covid.
Many will take this morning’s news cautiously for now. On Tuesday last week, it was announced that George Bennett (UAE Team Emirates) had returned a positive test as well as other riders meaning that they were also sent home.
Stage 16 on Tuesday will bring the first of three stages in the Pyrenees, it remains to be seen whether individual teams will discover positive cases amongst their ranks as the race continues.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Tom is a News and Features Writer at Cycling Weekly, and previously worked in communications at Oxford Brookes University. He has reported from a wide range of races and events including the Tour de France and World Championships.
-
-
When is Black Friday 2023 and how to find the best bike deals
We're already seeking out the best money saving cycling deals in the run up to Black Friday
By Anna Marie Abram Published
-
CW Asks: What three things do you wish you'd known when you first started cycling?
What we wish we had known when we first started cycling.
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Mark Cavendish to postpone retirement and ride on with Astana Qazaqstan, reports
British sprinter reported to have reached agreement with current team to continue racing in 2024
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
In memoriam: Tadej Pogačar's white jersey domination
After 81 days in the young rider's jersey at Grand Tours, the Slovenian has grown up
By Adam Becket Published
-
'They race like juniors': How men's pro cycling is getting wilder and races refuse to slow down
Racing from the gun during a three week Grand Tour is a big ask for even the best and the strongest. Is this the new cycling?
By Adam Becket Published
-
Remco Evenepoel hopes to 'steal' Jonas Vingegaard's secrets at Vuelta a España as he looks to 2024 Tour de France
Belgian aiming for second Vuelta a España triumph over the next three weeks, but faces stiff opposition
By Tom Davidson Published
-
WorldTour teams have an extra three years to halve carbon emissions before losing license - UCI clarifies
A carbon emissions tracker has been introduced and it is mandatory for all stakeholders to use it
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
‘I really like city street racing’ - Tadej Pogačar on the ‘enjoyable’ World Championships road race course
Slovenian two-time Tour de France winner took bronze behind rainbow jersey winner Mathieu van der Poel
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Opinion: Mark Cavendish Netflix documentary shows why Tour de France return is in doubt
Manxman's route out of depression shows what's really important
By Vern Pitt Published
-
UCI carried out 997 checks for motor doping at Tour de France, all came back negative
837 tests carried out at stage start using magnetic tablets, 160 at stage finishes using either backscatter or x-ray transmission technology
By Tom Thewlis Published