It’s Happening: Alpecin-Fenix Exit UAE Tour Due to Covid

Not content with being cycling’s Covid Gound Zero in 2020, the UAE Tour is back at its bullshit for another year. Whew, that’s an opening sentence that’s seriously going to get us kicked off their press list.

The Alpecin-Fenix team has withdrawn from the race due to a positive Covid test result from one member of its staff. The race organizers told us that this would “safeguard the race bubble and ensure the safe continuation of the race.” Which is probably about right. But oof. Not again.

This is a high-profile exit because the team’s leader, Mathieu van der Poel, was also leading the race at the time. He and his team had been specifically invited to participate, and it appeared as if that invitation was paying off as he won the opening stage. Now he’s OUT. Caffeine shampoo does NOT protect against Covid, it turns out.

The Alpecin-Fenix team and its staff will now be self-isolating. Our tip: buy the new Assassin’s Creed, a weed vape, and some vegan snacks. Solid use of two weeks.

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Alpecin-Fenix, in agreement with the UAE Tour organiser, have decided to withdraw its team from the race, in order to safeguard the race bubble and ensure the safe continuation of the race.

The team was notified of one positive result of a member of its staff from the round of tests conducted on Sunday evening, 21st of February.

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