Michael Mørkøv, Astana-Qazaqstan’s lead out skilled and key lieutenant to Mark Cavendish, has deserted the Tour de France forward of stage 12 after testing optimistic for COVID-19.
The Danish rider doesn’t have what Astana Qazaqstan described as ‘important signs’ however the group’s medical workers took the choice to drag Mørkøv from the race ‘to guard his well being from long-term results the virus may provoke sooner or later.’
Various riders have fallen and deserted the Tour de France in latest days however it’s not identified if this is because of COVID-19. However a variety of group workers and riders from Ineos Grenadiers, Jayco-AlUla and Bahrain Victorious, have been sporting masks to restrict the chance that riders and workers can catch and move on COVID-19.
The EF Education-EasyPost riders wore face masks as they rode to the sign-on podium on Thrusday.
In an announcement issued on Thursday morning, Astana-Qazaqstan acknowledged, “Yesterday night and this morning Michael Mørkøv was examined optimistic for COVID-19. Despite the rider feels good and doesn’t have important signs, the medical workers of Astana Qazaqstan Team took a call to cease the rider, to begin with, to guard his well being from long-term results the virus may provoke sooner or later.”
Mørkøv introduced he’ll retire from skilled biking on the finish of 2024 after additionally racing on the observe on the Paris Olympics for Denmark.
The 39-year-old Dane has loved an illustrious profession that noticed him turn into Olympic and World Champion on the observe, alongside being among the best lead-out riders of all time.
The newest race content material, interviews, options, opinions and skilled shopping for guides, direct to your inbox!
He began his WorldTour profession with Team Saxo Bank in 2009 and went on to experience for Katusha and Patrick Lefevere’s QuickStep groups between 2018 and 2023, the place he helped the likes of Elia Viviani, Sam Bennett, Fabio Jakobsen and Cavendish to a number of dash victories.
There is not any COVID-19 protocol in place on the Tour de France however a variety of riders, together with Tao Geoghegan Hart and Sepp Kuss have been hit by the vira at or after the Critérium du Dauphiné and have been pressured to overlook the Tour.
Tadej Pogacar admitted on the eve of the Tour that he examined optimistic for COVID-19 throughout a June coaching camp however solely suffered gentle signs.
Bahrain Victorious riders have been seen travelling to stage begins individually by automobile as a substitute of collectively on the group bus and wore face masks in keeping with Flemish web site Het Laatste Nieuws. Fred Wright suffered massively to complete stage 11 however was exterior the time restrict, whereas Matej Mohoric and Pello Bilbao additionally suffered throughout the stage.
“We have examined and there are not any optimistic Covid checks however some riders usually are not feeling nice.” Mohoric instructed Sporza on Thursday earlier than the stage begin.
The Slovenian rider confirmed that Bahrain Victorious are taking additional precautions.
“It’s higher to do this when you do not really feel 100%, proper?”
There is rising concern however not panic within the Tour de France peloton in regards to the return of COVID-19.
“I additionally see that Ineos-Grenadiers put on face masks within the assist automobile, we do not do this, however we do maintain the mandatory distance from outsiders and our riders are additionally not allowed to signal autographs for followers. We usually are not taking any particular measures. There is not any motive to go bananas but,” Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe senior directeur sportif Rolf Aldag instructed Het Laatste Nieuws.