COPENHAGEN – French Cofidis sprinter Bryan Coquard tested positive for COVID-19 and will not start the Tour de France on Friday, the French team which replaces him with Pierre-Luc Périchon announced on Thursday.
“Successive tests carried out by the medical staff of the Cofidis team revealed that Bryan Coquard was positive for COVID-19. In accordance with team policy, in agreement with ASO and the UCI, he will not participate in the Tour de France,” Cofidis said in a statement.
Coquard was the card of the northern team in the event of a grouped arrival, he had notably signaled himself with a second place, behind Peter Sagan, during a stage of the Tour de Suisse in mid-June. Pierre-Luc Périchon, who replaces him, will play his sixth Big Loop at the age of 35.
Several cases of COVID-19 have forced teams to reshuffle their collective just before the start of the Tour. The Italian Matteo Trentin, teammate of the outgoing double winner Tadej Pogacar, for example, was replaced on Wednesday by Marc Hirschi. Like Tim Declercq, replaced on Tuesday by the French champion Florian Sénéchal at Quick-Step.
