MORZINE, France: Australian Luke Durbridge is out of the Tour de France after testing positive for COVID-19, his Bike Exchange-Jayco team announced on Tuesday.
“Unfortunately Luke Durbridge tested positive for COVID-19 this morning. Durbridge has very mild symptoms and will not be starting Stage 10 today,” the Australian team said in a statement.
Durbridge is the fourth runner to leave the race with a positive COVID-19 test since the race began on July 1.
All runners had been tested on Sunday evening and all tests had come back negative.
Last year, if two members of a team tested positive for COVID, the whole outfit would be sent back, which is not the case in this edition.
Whether a rider who tests positive can remain in the race is decided following a meeting between the race, the International Cycling Union (UCI) and team doctors, based on viral load of the runner.