Covid claims another victim at the Tour de France - Chris Harper withdraws from race ahead of decisive week

Covid-19 and illnesses are running through the Tour de France peloton at alarming pace for about a week and it shows no signs of stopping. Stage 16 will start with at least one rider less as Team Jayco AlUla announce the departure of their climber Chris Harper from the race.

Initially, the Australian team entered the race with ambitions of sprinting for victories with Dylan Groenewegen with Simon Yates. With seven out of eight riders that were already present in the 2023 edition, the team looked to replicate a tactic that has worked in the past. Yates wanted to fight for the GC and his only domestique for the mountains was Harper, who finished 12th at Paris-Nice and sixth at the Vuelta a Catalunya earlier this year, proving himself as a strong climber even among strong and complete World Tour fields.

However Yates' GC challenge faded in the gravel stage, after a very hard day with minutes lost on the Col du Galibier in the opening week. Ultimately both climbers were given a free role but thus far none have managed to capitalize on it. The final week had still a few opportunities but the Australian climber will not start the third week and stage 16.

"Unfortunately Chris Harper will not start today's 16th stage of the Tour de France," the team wrote. "The Australian is suffering with Covid symptoms and following medical advice, he will return home to rest and recover properly for the next goals". Alongside him, also Maxim van Gils of Lotto Dstny will not depart what is claimed to be the final opportunity for the sprinters, also because of Covid-19. In the final days of the race, the stakes could not be higher and teams are undergoing a big increase in protection of their riders and staff from the virus.