Stressful rest day as riders face COVID tests

LA ROCHELLE, FRANCE » It was a rest day like no other for the Tour de France bunch.

After nine nervous and exhausting stages that took the peloton from the Riviera to the Pyrenees via a short journey in the Alps, riders would have normally taken some time off on Monday with their friends and families.

But this year is different.

In addition to their recovery routine, the 166 remaining riders stayed in their own “bubble” with a Damocles sword hanging over their head as they underwent coronavirus tests that will decide whether they can keep on racing.

“It’s disturbing, but we need to be patient,” said French rider Warren Barguil, during a video conference. “We’ll see our families in Paris on Sept. 20.”

After four staff members of the Belgian team Lotto- Soudal were sent home following abnormal coronavirus tests on the eve of the Tour, the race has been run without any further COVID- 19- related incidents.

But keeping the social distancing with the roadside crowds in place has not been an easy task. During Saturday’s first stage in the Pyrenees mountains, many spectators without masks did not respect the twometer distance required by organizers as they cheered their favorite riders.

Although test results are not expected to be unveiled before Tuesday, teams will soon find out whether the virus has contaminated the race bubble. “It would really be a shame to see a rider excluded from the Tour de France because he has been cheered on by not attentive enough fans,” Cofidis team manager Cedric Vasseur said.

Anyone who tests positive will have to leave the race and any team with more than two positive tests — either rider or staff — within seven days will be thrown out.

Primoz Roglic of Slovenia seized the race leader’s yellow jersey on Sunday’s final stage in the Pyrenees. The race resumes Tuesday with a flat stage linking two islands, the Ile d’Oleron and the Ile de Re, in the western Charente region.