The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) confirms that it has been informed that, as announced by the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Health and Prevention, six people still confined to the 4th floor of their hotel in Abu Dhabi after the discovery amongst them of cases requiring medical monitoring, yesterday tested positive for the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). These new cases are linked to the two previous identified cases that led to the cancellation of the last two stages of the UAE Tour.
Following the diagnosis of these new cases, the Emirates health authorities have decided to keep all the people confined to the 4th floor of the aforementioned hotel, namely members of the teams Cofidis, Groupama – FDJ et Gazprom – Rusvelo, in quarantine until 14 March at the latest. They will undergo more tests in order to ensure they are in good health. Meanwhile, the infected people have been taken to a hospital where they are benefitting from close medical monitoring.
The UCI is in contact with the authorities in the UAE to be sure that the teams – riders and staff – in quarantine are held in the best possible conditions (including good-quality food and regular cleaning of their rooms), and notably that the athletes have the necessary equipment (home trainers in particular) to continue training with a view to a return to competition before long.
The UCI continues to closely follow the situation and is committed to ensuring that all those concerned can return home as soon as possible. It is also taking care that there is optimal communication with the concerned teams so that they are informed on a daily basis of the evolution of the situation.
The UCI would like to thank the teams being held in Abu Dhabi for their patience in this difficult situation and for their contribution to the fight against the spreading of the coronavirus, and lends its support to them in this context which is critical for the world’s population, including for members of the cycling family.