Asked by 20 minutes last week, Bryan Coquard admitted that the rise in Covid-19 cases was generating “a lot of stress until the next tests”, as the Tour approached. The last ones passed by the Cofidis sprinter revealed that he had in turn been infected, like other runners before him.
“As per team policy, in agreement with ASO [organisateur de l’épreuve] and the UCI [la Fédération internationale]he will not participate in the Tour de France ”, indicates the northern formation this Thursday, on the eve of the start of the Grande Boucle in Copenhagen.
The “curse” continues
Arrived this winter from the B & B Hotels team and victorious in two races in February, Coquard (30) will be replaced by Pierre-Luc Périchon. The 35-year-old runner will compete for the sixth time in the biggest race in the world.
The sixth participation of the “Coq” will wait for next year, and its first stage victory too, after two second places in 2015 and 2016.