Frenchmen Mikaël Chérel and Aurélien Paret-Peintre tested positive for coronavirus and abandoned the Tour de France on Tuesday before the start of the 16th stage in Carcassonne.
Chérel and Paret-Peintre, both riders of the AG2R-Citroën team, are the two asymptomatic cases cited by the International Cycling Union (UCI) which carried out a general detection for the whole peloton on Sunday before the last day off.
“The results of two of our riders show a viral load that does not allow (them) to continue the Tour de France,” said their team following a last test carried out on Tuesday morning.
Their withdrawal leaves Vincent Lavenu’s team reduced to three riders: Luxembourger Bob Jungels, winner of the Chatel stage, Frenchman Benoît Cosnefroy and Belgian Stan Dewulf.
The French formation was deprived of its leader, the Australian Ben O’Connor, not starting in the 10th stage. She also lost along the way the Frenchman Geoffrey Bouchard, positive for covid-19, and the Belgian Oliver Naesen, sick.
Aurélien Paret-Peintre finished the Tour last year in 15th place, for his first participation. He was in 24th place before the start of this 16th stage.
A total of ten riders have left the Tour due to the coronavirus since the start in Copenhagen.
For his part, Lennart Kämna (Bora) will not start the 16th stage due to persistent cold.
/ATS
