Tour rest day testing returns no positive results for COVID-19

The entire race bubble was tested for the coronavirus on the 13th and 14th September and returned no positive results, race organisers ASO and the UCI jointly announced Tuesday evening (AEST).

Tour de France peloton climbing the Grand Colombier Source: Getty

Each of the 785 tests carried out over the past 48 hours returned negative results. 

This is the fourth screening campaign carried out after riders and staff in the race bubble were tested within the six days before the start of the event in Nice, upon their arrival on the Tour and testing on the first rest day during the 6th and 7th September. 

"Its objective is to guarantee the health of the race for the riders and accredited personnel in the face of the novel coronavirus," the statement read. 

"The organisers of the Tour de France and the UCI would like to thank all of the teams for their collaboration and for the vigilance that they have shown and will continue to show up until the finish in Paris."

One staff member from each of the teams AG2R Mondiale, Cofidis, Mitchelton-Scott and INEOS Grenadiers returned a positive result after the last rest day testing and left the race.

Christian Prudhomme, Tour de France director also tested positive but is back in the red Škoda race car today after seven days away from the event.  

The 2020 Tour de France resumes with Stage 16 on tonight, a day in the mountains again on the agenda. Watch the race on the SBS ŠKODA Tour Tracker from 8:55pm AEST and on SBS HD / SBS On Demand from 9:30pm AEST.