Danish rider Michael Morkov withdrew from the Tour de France on Thursday, simply earlier than the beginning of the twelfth stage as a result of COVID-19, his staff introduced.
The 39-year-old bicycle owner returned a constructive take a look at outcome on Wednesday evening and the next morning, his staff, Astana, stated in a press release.
“Despite the rider feeling good and doesn’t [sic] have important signs, the medical employees of Astana took a call to cease the rider, initially, to guard his well being from long-term results the virus might provoke sooner or later.” the assertion learn.
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The withdrawal is a troublesome blow for Morkov, who’s competing in his last Tour de France earlier than he’s anticipated to retire on the finish of the 12 months.
The Tour de France doesn’t have COVID-19 protocols. British bicycle owner Tao Geoghegan Hart and American Sepp Kuss additionally missed the race after contracting the virus earlier than it started.
The Tour de France started in Florence, Italy on July ninth and can conclude in Nice, France, on July twenty fourth.
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Denmark’s Michael Morkov has withdrawn from the Tour de France forward of the race’s twelfth stage due to a COVID-19 an infection. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole, File)
This 12 months marks the primary time in Tour de France historical past that the race is not going to end in Paris because of the upcoming Olympics.
Despite his withdrawal, Morkov is because of compete in his last Olympic Games later this month.
Morkov, a three-time Olympian, took dwelling a silver medal on the 2008 Beijing Olympics in a staff occasion, and received gold within the Madison monitor occasion on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
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A normal view of the peloton competing through the 111th Tour de France 2024. (Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)
He formally turned professional in 2009 and received the Denmark National Championships in 2013, 2018 and 2019 within the highway race. In 2013, Morkov received the Spanish Vuelta.
Stage 12 of the Tour de France came about on Wednesday with Biniam Girmay profitable the stage, his third stage win.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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