(Le Bourg-d’Oisans) Former French champion Warren Barguil was forced to leave the Tour de France on Friday before the 13e stage due to a positive test for COVID-19, announced his Arkea-Samsic team before the start at Bourg-d’Oisans.
The Breton, 24e in the general classification more than 42 minutes from the yellow jersey, fell Thursday in the descent of the Croix-de-Fer and injured his hip and right shoulder. The day before, he had taken the lead at the top of the Galibier before finishing 10e at the Col du Granon.
The seven other riders of the Arkea-Samsic team, including the Colombian Nairo Quintana, 6e overall, have all tested negative, the team said.
Barguil is the sixth rider to withdraw from the race due to a positive COVID-19 test after New Zealander George Bennett (UAE), Norwegian Vegard Stake Laengen (UAE), Australian Luke Durbridge (BikeExchange) and the French Geoffrey Bouchard (AG2R Citroën) and Guillaume Martin (Cofidis).
