Tour de France riders fear they will catch Covid-19 from fans tackling climbs without masks
Riders of the Tour de France have begged fans along the climbs to keep their masks on to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
During Saturday’s first stage in the Pyrenees, many spectators did not respect the two-meter distance required by the organizers while cheering on their favorite riders.
Others were depicted with their masks under their noses and chins as the pack came up the mountain, as social aloofness proved difficult to enforce along parts of the 140-mile road.
Riders of the Tour de France have begged spectators along the way to keep their masks on
“It’s definitely a problem,” said Sunweb’s Nicholas Roche. ‘I think the photos say it all. I had mixed feelings when I saw the fans at the Peyresourde and got goosebumps again from the adrenaline. I was like “ah this is the Tour” and then I immediately thought “no, this can’t be right”. ‘
To access the climbs, racing fans need a bike and a mask, making the photos of those with a face mask under their chin even more stunning.
“They had it under their chin so they could scream, but you can also scream with your mask on,” Roche continued. “Unfortunately it is quite difficult to control… hopefully there will be more controls, but I also feel sorry for the police officers who are fighting against it.”
This year, on the rest day after the ninth stage, riders and sports directors undergo a coronavirus test to reduce its spread.
Fans are depicted cheering on their favorite riders without properly wearing a mask
In addition to their recovery routine, the 166 remaining riders will remain in their own ‘bubble’, with a Damocles sword over their heads, as they will undergo coronavirus tests that will decide whether they can continue to race.
The Tour de France organizers said that about 650 tests will be conducted. Some took place on Sunday, with most riders tested on Monday.
While the test results are not expected to be revealed before Tuesday, teams will soon find out if the virus has infected the race bubble.
“It would be a real shame to see a rider excluded from the Tour de France because he is encouraged by insufficiently attentive fans,” said Cofidis team manager Cedric Vasseur.
The next round of testing could indeed shake up the race. Anyone who tests positive must leave the race, and any team with more than two positive tests – driver or staff – will be thrown out within seven days.
“If you have it, you have it,” said Dan Martin. It’s not your fault and I think everyone’s biggest fear is the false positives. Obviously, if you have it, it is for the greater good that you should go home.
Social distance was ignored by many during Saturday’s first stage in the Pyrenees
‘You have to understand that 100 percent. But if you don’t have it and you just got a false positive and then you go home, that’s not fair. We have to hope that we still have 22 teams with us on Tuesday. ‘
“It’s something that’s on the riders’ minds,” Roche added from Monday’s test. And it would be wrong if it wasn’t because everyone is afraid the race will not go ahead. It’s that simple.’
Under threat of cancellation at one point – more than 30,000 people in France have died after contracting the coronavirus, making the country one of the hardest hit countries in Europe – the Tour was saved by pushing it back from its traditional date in July towards the end of summer.
The price paid for the race to be run is a tough hygiene protocol that includes mandatory COVID-19 testing for riders and team workers on rest days.
They were all tested before the Tour started in Nice and have lived in race quarantine ever since, to ensure they stay away from fans and sponsors who were usually ubiquitous during the three weeks of the popular event.
After four staff members of the Belgian team Lotto-Soudal were sent home after abnormal coronavirus tests on the eve of the Tour, the race was held without further COVID-19-related incidents.
Slovenian Primoz Roglic grabbed the race leader’s yellow jersey after the end of the ninth stage
To avoid false positive results that could disregard healthy riders, Tour organizers have said they will try to have a retest and blood analysis as soon as possible. They have set up a mobile coronavirus lab that can deliver results within two hours.
After Sunday’s last stage in the Pyrenees, where Slovenian Primoz Roglic grabbed the race leader’s yellow jersey, the 22 Tour teams traveled by bus to the western Charente region. The race will resume on Tuesday with a flat stage connecting two islands, the Ile d’Oleron and the Ile de Re.
Roglic leads defending champion Egan Bernal by 21 seconds with Frenchman Guillaume Martin in third place, 28 seconds behind.
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