Virus outbreak sweeps Tour de France, affecting nearly all 23 teams

Mask on and into the minibus! A virus alert has swept through the Tour de France, affecting riders across nearly all 23 teams, including UAE Emirates, the squad of superstar Tadej Pogacar (27).

The Slovenian was guided safely to the finish on Stage 18 from Voiron to Orcières-Merlette by his helpers, while his teammate Brandon McNulty (28/USA) was forced to abandon the race due to illness.

Team Response and Protective Measures

It is 16 kilometers from the finish to the team buses. Nils Politt (32) rode second from the team car of Pogacar's squad. The Cologne native is among those not yet affected by the virus.

In his team, up to three riders may be impacted. Besides McNulty, Florian Vermeersch (27/Belgium) and Adam Yates (33/Great Britain) have shown symptoms. Politt, speaking without a mask at the bus, said:

"Brandon didn't feel well this morning, and already yesterday. Adam was better today. I don't know about Tim."

Wellens helped the struggling Yates on Wednesday. Both looked unwell. But as Politt noted, "It's the Tour, you don't just drop out, you push yourself almost to inhuman limits."

Richard Carapaz celebrates his overall second stage win at the Tour de France. Photo: Gonzalo Fuentes/REUTERS

Co-favorite Jonas Vingegaard (29/Denmark), who has since withdrawn due to a broken collarbone, also routinely wore a mask when outside the race. Politt explained how the team is protecting itself:

"I don't know what's going around. You hear from many riders in the peloton that they are struggling and sick, even if they don't have diarrhea. None of us have broken down either. But we've had single rooms throughout the entire Tour and try to separate ourselves otherwise."

Cancelled Dinners and COVID-Era Precautions

The usually nicest part of the day—the shared dinner—has been cancelled at UAE Emirates and likely other teams as well.

"Last night, people who felt unwell ate in their rooms. Those are the things we can do. Like in Corona times: disinfect hands and wear masks," said the German time trial champion.

Tadej Pogacar can continue throwing yellow bouquets to the crowd. Photo: Stephanie Lecocq/REUTERS

Pogacar's Path to Paris

The family man handles the topic routinely. Until 2024, masks were sometimes still mandatory at the Tour. Politt remarked:

"You hear about illnesses from other teams too. We're not the only ones struggling. But I've also never ridden a Tour de France where there were no illnesses."

However, an outbreak this widespread, affecting many teams at once, does not happen every year. Politt will do everything to stay healthy—his wife and children are coming to Paris.

The immediate goal is to get Pogacar safely to the finish in Paris on Sunday, ideally without infection. How his sick teammates will support him remains to be seen. No one wants to infect him. And climbing Alpe d'Huez twice on Friday and Saturday—the ultimate Tour monument—will be a tough test.

Stage 18 Winner

Richard Carapaz (33) won the stage to Orcières-Merlette. The Ecuadorian, Olympic champion in 2021, secured victory from a breakaway group.