Guillaume Martin of Cofidis has become the latest rider forced out of the Tour de France due to Covid-19. The UCI has confirmed the French rider will not start today's stage 9 after testing positive.
It was agreed between doctors working for the team and the race, with Martin positive for the virus and clearly showing a higher viral load than required to be classified as non-contagious.
Martin (29) was 13th on yesterday's stage, on the same time as winner Wout van Aert (Jumbo Visma) and was sitting 14th overall, some 3:02 behind yellow jersey Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates).
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"The Union Cycliste Internationale announces that Guillaume Martin from the Cofidis team will not be starting the 9th stage of the Tour de France 2022, due to the application of the Covid-19 health protocol put in place by the UCI," the world governing body said in a statement.
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"The decision was taken in a collegial manner by the concerned team doctor, the Covid-19 doctor for the event and the UCI Medical Director, on the basis of the available clinical elements.
"The UCI and its partners remind all participants in road races on the UCI International Calendar that the rules introduced over the last two years in the interests of everyone’s health and safety continue to apply. These include the obligation to wear a mask, to maintain sufficient physical distance and to disinfect hands frequently."
