Lotto-Soudal have sent home two staff members from the Tour de France as the risk to the race posed by the coronavirus pandemic increases.
The news came on a day when the Alpes-Maritimes region – which includes Nice where the opening weekend of the race will take start and finish – was put on red alert as the spread of the virus continued to increase.
Lotto-Soudal announced that two staff members had been removed from the race after one tested positive and the other returned a "suspicious" result. The relevant tests were carried out on Wednesday.
"For this reason, in order to protect the health of the team and the race, these two staff people will not be allowed to continue," the Belgian team said in a statement.
"As a safety measure, and to respect the Covid-19 Measures Tour de France Protocol, their risk contacts will leave the race as well."
Earlier this week, Tour organisers issued strict protocols to teams, stating that any team with two or more positive tests within their bubble would be sent home from the race.
But following representations between Tour organisers ASO and the AIGCP – the body which represents professional teams – it is thought those rules have been relaxed, although no official announcement has been made.
That would allow Lotto-Soudal, who are targeting stage victories through sprinter Caleb Ewan and breakaway specialist Thomas de Gendt, to take to the start line in Nice on Saturday, but the positive tests comes as a reminder of the tightrope the race is walking.
Nice must impose tighter protocols after the Alpes-Maritimes region was one of 19 French departments to be put on red alert on Thursday.
Tour director Christian Prudhomme had previously said the race would not be staged behind closed doors, but efforts must now be made to strictly limit crowds around the starts and finishes, as well as on the nearby mountain climbs – a hugely difficult task on public roads.
In a special press conference on Thursday, Alpes-Maritimes prefect Bernard Gonzalez issued an order prohibiting access to the climbs that will feature in the opening two stages.
"Access to the climbs by vehicles will be prohibited," Gonzalez said. "A public order means the police will have to do everything so that spectators don't gather at the foot of the climbs."
Earlier in the day, some riders openly discussed the chances the Tour might not reach Paris, where it is scheduled to finish on 20 September.
"The way 2020 has been going, nothing surprises me any more," Irish sprinter Sam Bennett said.
"We just have to stay open-minded. I wouldn’t be surprised if it did make it to Paris, but I also wouldn’t be surprised if it didn’t make it past the weekend."
Lotto-Soudal, though now depleted in number, said they would press on.
"After months of intensive training, Lotto Soudal is still very motivated to perform well in this Tour de France," their statement added.
"The team hopes the two involved people recover well and that this Tour de France can go until Paris with healthy people."
