Froome and the platoon stars, locked in the Abu Dhabi hotel for fear of the coronavirus

The Tour of the United Arab Emirates, which has been held since the past 23 and should end on Saturday 29, has been suspended by the coronavirus, as sources of RCS have just reported, also organizing the Giro d'Italia and tests such as the Adritic Tyrrhenian and Miln San Remo.

The expansion of the coronavirus by some countries has had a decisive influence on the cycling test in the absence of two stages for its completion. About 7:45 p.m. (4:45 p.m. in Spain), both the participating teams and members of the organization and news media received a note to establish the prohibition of leaving the hotels.

“By order of the Abu Dhabi authorities, the departure of people staying in hotels is prohibited“, a measure that affected all the equipment housed in the Yas Marina Hotel, located next to the speed circuit and the components of the press and organization, located in the Crown Hotel, about 500 meters from the previous one.

The british Chris Froome (Ineos), who had reappeared in this race eight months after a terrible time at the Criterium Dauphine, has lamented the suspension of the UAE Tour for the coronavirus, but stressed that “the first thing is public health.” “It is a shame the cancellation of the race, but the most important thing is public health. We are all waiting for medical tests and we will remain in the hotel until further notice. I await the recovery of those affected and there are no more cases,” he said. Quad Tour winner.

The director of the test, Mauro Vegni went to the hotel of the cyclists to meet with the directors and present the situation. Hence the decision to cancel the second edition of the United Arab Emirates Tour, the only one of the World Tour in the Middle East.

According to the authorities, all the people staying in both hotels they must pass sanitary controls to rule out infections, and in positive case establish the precise protocol. The fifth race on Thursday is the fifth stage with a high finish, in Jebel Hafeet, with victory from Slovenian Tadej Pogacar. The leader and virtual winner is the English Adam Yates.