After three riders, UAE Team Emirates manager also leaves Tour de France with Covid

Joxean Matxin has left the Tour de France with Covid-19. The manager of UAE Team Emirates is a constant figure in Tadej Pogacar's career and his current season, keeping up with the Slovenian in all races and training camps, but will not be present in the second half of the Tour.

The Spaniard shared the news this afternoon on social media. He tested positive for the virus in internal testing within the team, further expanding the outbreak that's present inside the team. The news come after Vegard Stake Laengen, George Bennett and Rafal Majka all tested positive.

Although the Polish climber stayed in the race the other two riders abandoned, and the risk of having more riders and staff infected is real. Some have rumoured that it was possible that the defending champion was suffering from it as a justification to his disappointing performance at the Col du Granon, but that has since been disproved by team manager Mauro Gianetti.