To prevent contamination of runners, a bubble has been placed around them. Since they have been in Nice, they have been placed in an airlock, with their team and their staff. No one else has the right to enter this bubble. There will be no photos, no autographs for the supporters and no room either for the families of the riders, who usually come to certain stages and on the days off. This year, it will be banned. The teams will also practice tests every day, thanks to a mobile laboratory which will follow the route of the Tour de France.
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Under the threat of abandonment
The sword of Damocles is there: if the coronavirus penetrates a team, if at least two of its riders test positive, it will be forced to give up. "I think we are all well aware that there is no zero risk, that we cyclists, with fatigue, we are a population at risk. This is something that hangs over us because we would have months of preparation that would go up in smoke. But we are all aware of the situation and we accept it ", testifies the French Guillaume Martin, of the Cofidis team at the microphone of Europe 1.
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The country's health situation is a priority
If the risks of exclusion are real for the teams, a total cancellation of the Tour de France is also possible and has been considered by the organizers, who explain that the health situation of the country is a priority. If the situation deteriorates, the Tour could indeed be canceled. The option is the table, however with a question: if canceled along the way, will there be an official winner of the 2020 edition? For now, there is no answer.