UAE down to 6 riders as Tadej Pogacar's teammate George Bennett leaves Tour with Covid-19, Majka infected but stays

Tensions in UAE Team Emirates are on an all-time high. Although in the second rest-day Covid tests all riders avoided a positive test, before the start of stage 10 the same luck wasn't had as George Bennett was forced to abandon the race.

The Kiwi was an important piece of the team's mountain capacity and leaves UAE Team Emirates down to six riders. Rafal Majka, Pogacar's most important lieutenant has also tested positive, although according to sources within the race he is staying within the race as he is having a "low enough viral load" that prevents transmission to others.

After Vegard Stake Laengen's abandon last week, the team is experiencing an outbreak that draws nearer and nearer to race leader Tadej Pogacar. Although unclear measures are allowing some riders to stay in the race despite being infected, Pogacar's Tour is at risk.

This will make the team further sensitive to the expected attacks of Jumbo-Visma and INEOS Grenadiers in the mountains, and pose a bigger struggle for the Slovenian to revalidate his title.