Tour de France COVID-19 tests not carried out properly, alleges Belgian medical body

JumboVisma teams Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard celebrates on the podium with the overall leaders yellow jersey after the 11th stage of the 109th edition of the Tour de France cycling race 1517 km between Albertville and Col du Granon Serre Chevalier in the French Alps on July 13 2022 Photo by AnneChristine POUJOULAT AFP Photo by ANNECHRISTINE POUJOULATAFP via Getty Images
(Image credit: ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT AFP via Getty Image)

"All tests were negative". That message from the UCI after the rest day round of COVID-19 testing at the Tour de France came as a surprise to all. For some, it was scarcely believable. 

A body of sports medicine practitioners in Belgium has raised question marks over the legitimacy of the tests, effectively accusing race organisers ASO of a cover-up. 

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Patrick Fletcher

Patrick is a freelance sports writer and editor. He’s an NCTJ-accredited journalist with a bachelor’s degree in modern languages (French and Spanish). Patrick worked full-time at Cyclingnews for eight years between 2015 and 2023, latterly as Deputy Editor.