Geoffrey Bouchard tested positive for Covid-19 and he left the Tour de France on Saturday before the start in Dole of the 8th stage, as the AG2R Citroen team announced. This is his first abandonment of the race.
Bouchard, who was suffering from the 7th stage, had an antigen test performed on his return to hotel. It came back positive. Vincent Lavenu's team said that Bouchard was immediately isolated from other members of the group.
Dr Serge Niamke, French doctor, stated that the riders and management had all failed to pass the antigen test. He also said that the team conducts additional antigen tests every three working days, in addition to those conducted by the organizer.
Bouchard, who was 30, has admitted that he didn't feel well during the stage. Bouchard is a former winner of the Vuelta and Giro mountain classifications. "It was a huge disappointment as I was entering my favourite terrain, the mountains. It was my first Tour de France, and it's sad that it ended like this.
Vincent Lavenu stated, "We have applied and implemented a very strict protocol from the beginning of the health crisis in order to ensure the health of our riders as well as our management,"
"I feel sorry for Geoffrey, who we had been counting on for the following few days." We hope to be at the top of the mountain stage when the Tour ends.
The French team has not had much success this year, unlike last year. The leader of the team, Ben O'Connor from Australia (4th in 2021), was unable to keep up with the pace and ended up 46th in the standings. This is almost a quarter hour behind Tadej Pogacar, who wore the yellow jersey.
Half a dozen runners had to be replaced due to Covid in the days before the start.
Positive tests have led to several team managers leaving the race. The Quick-Step Training, which required three new sports directors, was one example.
