Four-time champion Chris Froome is out of the 2022 Tour de France having revealed on Thursday afternoon that he has tested positive for Covid-19.
Froome was out of contention for the general classification title, sitting in 26th place with four stages to go with a deficit of over an hour and 27 minutes, but he had been hoping to complete the race in Paris on Sunday following a promising tour topped by a fantastic ride to third place on the Alpe d’Huez in stage 12.
But he has instead become the latest rider to have to abandon due to Covid-19, leaving his Israel Premier Tech team with five remaining competitors ahead of Thursday’s stage 18 from Lourdes to Hautacam.
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“Unfortunately I’ve got some pretty disappointing news to share with you this morning,” a visibly upset Froome said in a video posted to his Twitter account on Thursday. “A test has revealed that I have contracted Covid so I’m not going to be taking the start today.
“I’m really disappointed not to be able to roll into Paris and finish off this Tour de France, it’s been an extremely special race for us as a team and for me personally as well.”
Froome has been steadily improving in performance terms in recent times after recovering from a career-threatening crash at the Criterium du Dauphine in 2019, and after finishing 133rd in last year’s Tour de France he was hoping for a creditable placing this time around.
But his enforced withdrawal means he will now head home and take time out before preparing for a return at the Vuelta a Espana, which begins on August 19.
Jonas Vingegaard remains in the yellow jersey in Le Tour ahead of Thursday’s stage, holding an advantage of two minutes and 18 seconds over reigning back-to-back champion Tadej Pogacar.
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