How many riders will leave the roads of the Tour de France (from 1is au July 24) before its term, affected by the Covid-19? After the last two editions shaken up by the coronavirus, the cycling event will have to deal 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 Frenchman Bryan Coquard (Cofidis), whose package was announced Thursday, June 30. A worrying situation a few hours before the big start, given on Friday in the streets of Copenhagen.
Also concerned by the withdrawal of a runner who tested positive for the virus – the Belgian Tim Declercq, replaced on Tuesday by the very recent French champion, Florian Sénéchal – the Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl team ensures that they are taking more precautions. “We must constantly pay attentionexplained Wednesday at a press conference Tom Steels, former runner who became sports director of the Belgian formation. The risk is everywhere and the restrictions are no longer the same as those of the last two years. I apologize in advance to the spectators for our attitude towards them, but the Tour de France is too important a race for us. »
To limit their exposure, many riders also preferred to give up competing in their national championships on June 26. This is particularly the case for the headliners of Groupama-FDJ, David Gaudu and Thibaut Pinot, affected by Covid-19 at the end of the Tour de Suisse (from June 12 to 21) and now fully recovered. “We have chosen not to run Thibaut Pinot and David Gaudu to take no risk, given the health situation”specified to the regional daily West France their sports director, Benoît Vaugrenard.
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 to Denmark. “Boarding a crowded plane for the big departure when 90% of the passengers are not wearing a mask. First stress test. The Tour is on”, he tweeted on Tuesday.
Increased vigilance, but relaxed regulations
Aware of the risk of accelerated spread of the virus within the peloton, the International Cycling Union (UCI) announced an increase in vigilance, in a press release published on Tuesday. A positive decision according to the runners. ” It’s logic ! As a team, we also take our precautions and have, I think, found a good way to protect ourselves. I feel safe”says Kasper Asgreen in front of the press. “The team doctor notably reminded me a few weeks ago that we have not experienced a large cluster within the group, so this is proof of our seriousness”, wants to believe the Danish wheeler.
However, the position of the UCI is variable in geometry. The world body has announced the possibility for asymptomatic riders to continue the Tour de France according to their state of form. « This is good news, but it does not change our vision of the subject. If we are faced with this scenario, we will above all preserve the health of the runner “assure Tom Steels.
All smiles at the #TDF2022 team presentation ????
Photo: @BeelWout https://t.co/1LDHgkOirj
The UCI also waived a point of regulation which provided for the mandatory abandonment of a team as soon as two or more riders were infected over a period of seven days, such as during the Grande Boucle 2020. The disaster scenario known on the Tour de Suisse, where half of the entrants had to abandon, should therefore be avoided.
Vigilance is still required in a tense health context, but the message seems very clear: even if some runners leave, The Show Must Go On.