La Tour-du-Pin (France) (AFP)

The entire Tour de France peloton was authorized to leave on Tuesday for the 16th stage, the first in the Alps, after negative results in tests for the detection of Covid-19.

None of the runners has been positive for the various Covid tests undergone for three weeks.

Following the health protocol validated by the French authorities, the runners were checked twice before the Grand Départ from Nice, then to be checked again on each of the two days of rest, the second time on Monday in the department of Isere.

"It means that the measures taken are effective," said Tour director Christian Prudhomme at the start of the 16th stage at La Tour-du-Pin (Isère).

Christian Prudhomme, who had tested positive at the beginning of last week, resumed his place after isolating himself for seven days and underwent a new test, this time negative.

- "It was the sine qua non condition" -

"We are faced with a disease that killed 30,000 people in the spring," recalled the director of the Tour.

"The measures that had to be taken have been taken. Sometimes people complain because some people could not stay in such passes but that was the sine qua non for the organization of the Tour de France".

"Everyone says that the pandemic will last: that we continue to live is essential, continued Christian Prudhomme. When people respect the rules, pay attention, things go well."

"I'm not going to chatter you, however conceded the director of the Tour. It's the only time since 2004, when I joined the organization of the Tour de France, that I can't wait to be at the end. There, we are on the right track ".

The controls focused on the entire "race bubble" which brings together the runners, the management of their teams and some officials, ie some 650 to 700 people.

The greater number of tests carried out (785 on the occasion of the second day of rest) can be explained by checks carried out on people who are not part of the "race bubble".

On the first day of rest, four people from the management of four different teams (AG2R La Mondiale, Cofidis, Ineos, Mitchelton) had a positive result and had to leave.

The start of the 16th stage is scheduled for 1:20 p.m. at the exit of La Tour-du-Pin.

The race should arrive on the heights of Villard-de-Lans, at the Côte 2000, after 164 kilometers.

© 2020 AFP