Covid takes out Pidcock, Thomas also tests positive: Welshman tries to continue despite symptoms

Rumors had been circulating for days that COVID-19 had struck the British team, as Pidcock and Geraint Thomas were being transported to the start in separate cars instead of their usual places in the team bus. With the news that Pidcock will not start on Saturday, INEOS Grenadiers has more or less confirmed this.

"A disappointed Tom Pidcock will not line up for stage 14 of the Tour de France today," the team wrote. "Tom is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and, under advice from our medical team, will now return home to recover." He is the first INEOS Grenadiers rider to leave this Tour de France.

Thomas responded on behalf of the team, talking to ITV. "I don't feel well either and have tested positive. I have mild symptoms with a headache and a stuffy nose, but I'm following the team's protocol, and the doctor is monitoring me. We'll see how it goes. In normal life, it wouldn't stop you, but we are racing the Tour."

Pidcock had not been having much luck in this Tour de France. During the opening weekend, he couldn't fulfill his ambitions for the yellow jersey and dropped out of the general classification, subsequently focusing on stage wins. In the gravel stage, he finished second behind Anthony Turgis of TotalEnergies, but that remains his best result. A hard blow for the Brit, who was still hoping to achieve a stage win through breakaways in the mountains during the third week.

Pidcock hopes to recover in time for the Paris Olympics, his major goal this year. The Brit is defending his Olympic title in mountain biking and is also expected to compete in the road race over Montmartre. But first, he must recover from the virus he contracted during the Tour.