Axel May, edited by Mélanie Faure 9:29 a.m., June 21, 2022, modified at 9:29 a.m., June 21, 2022
The Tour de France makes its big comeback on July 1.
Runners from around the world will set off from Copenhagen, Denmark.
If the competition is awaited by cycling fans, professionals are worried after the dozens of cases of runners infected with the coronavirus during the Tour de Suisse.
Will the scenario repeat itself?
The Tour de France will start from Copenhagen, Denmark, on July 1, but the shadow of Covid-19 hangs over the riders.
The organizers are worried about a possible explosion of cases of contamination within the peloton.
What puts the flea in their ears: the carnage experienced by another great race, the Tour de Suisse.
The coronavirus spread rapidly through the peloton, raising concerns as around 30 riders, including yellow jersey Aleksandr Vlasov, had to retire.
>> Find Europe Matin in replay and podcast here
The issue of peloton-related risks
“There is a real question regarding the spread of the virus on this Tour de Suisse, knowing that all the riders had been tested before the start”, worries Xaxier Jan, president of the French Professional Cycling League at the microphone. d'Europe 1. "It would be a bit of a very worrying scenario compared to the Tour de France. It means that if they broadcast a peloton during the race, it will become complicated."
The National Professional Cycling League has already decided to return to a health bubble for the French championships at the end of the week in Cholet.
If on the side of the Tour, no announcement has yet been made, certain restrictive measures could make their return.
Measures such as filtered public access, in order to protect runners as much as possible from the risk of infection and having to abandon the biggest stage race of the year.