Chris Froome and Mark Cavendish are among riders who will be tested for the coronavirus after the UAE Tour was cancelled on Thursday when two participants contracted Covid-19.
The final two stages of the race were due to take place on Friday and Saturday but the race was abandoned when the Italian duo were taken ill. All riders and staff were confined to their rooms at the Crowne Royal Plaza Abu Dhabi Yas Island, with concerns that the potential outbreak could now extend to the UCI world track championships in Berlin after some riders who took part in the early stage of the UAE Tour already in Germany.
Four-time Tour de France winner Froome, who was using the race to make his long-awaited comeback from the career-threatening injuries he suffered last June, posted on Twitter that he was awaiting a test for the virus.
“It’s a shame that the UAETour has been cancelled but public health must come first,” the Team Ineos rider wrote. “We are all awaiting testing and will remain at the hotel until further notice. I hope those affected make a speedy recovery and there aren’t any further cases #coronavirus.”
Organisers formally confirmed that the race had been cancelled in the early hours of Friday morning Abu Dhabi time.
“The decision has been taken to ensure protection of all the race’s participants,” said a statement from the Abu Dhabi sports council. “Safety comes at the top of all priorities.”
The statement added that the ministry of health and prevention would be examining “all the race’s participants, administrative staff and organisers” and was prepared to introduce quarantine measures to prevent any potential spread of the virus.”
The Italian Vini Zabu-KTM team said on Twitter: “In the hotel the local authorities are testing all the riders and the staff members #Coronavirus.”
A tweet from the Jumbo-Visma team said: “We have taken note of the cancellation of the UAE Tour due to the occurrence of the coronavirus. We wish all the people involved the very best, awaiting further developments.”
Riders and staff stay at the Crowne Royal Plaza throughout the seven-stage race, which began on Sunday. Britain’s Adam Yates, riding for Mitchelton-Scott, was in the leader’s red jersey following Thursday’s stage five to Jebel Hafeet.