Teams can be excluded if two riders test positive for coronavirus - UCI

Tour de France teams can be excluded if two riders from the same outfit test positive for the coronavirus within a seven-day period during the race, the International Cycling Union (UCI) said on Friday.

Exclusions, however, will not be automatic and the decision will have to be made by race organisers, the governing body said.

"In the case of two or more riders from the same team testing positive for Covid-19 within a period of seven days at a Grand Tour, the UCI will give the event organiser authorisation to announce the withdrawal of the team for health reasons, on the condition however, that the global medical assessment carried out confirm the positive cases," the UCI said in a statement.

Tour organisers Amaury Sports Organisation (ASO) had previously said that teams would be excluded should two riders or staff members test positive for coronavirus within a seven-day period.

A meeting between ASO and the teams on Tuesday, however, led to the rule being 'relaxed', meaning that Lotto Soudal, who had two staff members test positive on Thursday, remained in the race.

The Tour starts on Saturday as the number of coronavirus cases in France has been rising steadily since the beginning of the month.

"In the case of a positive test for Covid-19 during a Grand Tour, the organiser must do everything possible – but without being liable – to proceed as far as possible with a complementary test and a serological analysis before the following stage," the UCI added, after several possible 'false positives' were reported in the professional peloton.

The update from the UCI comes on the day reports emerged that the Alpes-Maritimes region, where the opening stages of the race are set to be held, was placed on red alert after increased spread of Covid-19.

The number of daily cases in France reached a new post-lockdown high of 6,111 on Thursday, fuelling speculation among fans and media that the race, which starts on Saturday, would not reach Paris on September 20.

However, the Ineos Grenadiers team principal Dave Brailsford believes everything has been done so that the Tour de France can be raced in safe conditions.

"We can minimise risks quite significantly," Brailsford told a news conference on Friday.

Riders and team staff members were tested for the coronavirus six and three days before the start of the race.

Four members of the Lotto Soudal team were sent home on Thursday after a mechanic and a caretaker tested positive.

"We've been working with (organisers) Amaury Sport Organisation and they really have done everything possible to make the event work," Brailsford said.