International Cycling Union (UCI) president David Lappartient is confident that the Tour de France can be completed despite concerns over a possible second wave of the coronavirus in the country.
The number of new daily cases has been rising steadily since the beginning of the month, prompting the UCI to enforce strict rules to help protect riders during the three-week race starting on Sunday (NZ time).
Asked whether it would be a miracle if the Tour made it to the French capital, Lappartient replied: “I believe in miracles, so yes we will reach Paris.”
One of the new rules imposed by the governing body concerns when teams can be excluded from the race in the event of positive tests for COVID-19.
Should two or more riders from the same team test positive for the coronavirus over a seven-day period, the whole outfit could be excluded.
Riders have been tested twice before the start of the race and a mobile laboratory provided by organisers will ensure they can be tested during the event.
– Reuters
