Alpecin-Fenix withdraw from UAE Tour after staff member tests positive for Covid-19

Stage 1 winner Mathieu van der Poel out of WorldTour race

Stage one winner Mathieu van der Poel won't be competing at the UAE Tour after his team Alpecin–Fenix withdrew following a positive result. AFP

The UAE Tour stage one winner Mathieu van der Poel will not be competing for the remainder of the WorldTour race after his team Alpecin-Fenix withdrew following a positive coronavirus result of a staff member.

Alpecin-Fenix, in agreement with the UAE Tour organisers, "have decided to withdraw their team from the race in order to safeguard the race bubble and ensure the safe continuation of the race", the race organisers announced on Monday.

The team was notified of one positive result of a member of its staff from the round of tests conducted on Sunday evening.

“Upon receiving the results, the person immediately went into isolation, and all those who came into contact with this person are self-isolating, in compliance with the protocol measures put in place by the race organisers and UAE health authorities,” they added in a statement.

“All team members will undertake further tests in the coming days, while they remain in isolation.”

The UAE Tour last year was abandoned with two stages of the race left due to confirmed cases of coronavirus in the race.

Adam Yates, racing for Mitchelton-Scott, was declared the winner. The British rider has since moved to Ineos Grenadiers.

Then, the entire race caravan was placed in lockdown in their hotel in Abu Dhabi, and four teams spent extended periods in quarantine before being allowed to leave the country.

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Van der Poel wins opening stage