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AURILLAC, France (AP) — Veteran Michael Morkov withdrew from the Tour de France before level 12 due to a COVID-19 infection, his Astana announced Thursday.
The 39-year-old Dane carried out tests on Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
“Although the rider feels well and does not have the necessary symptoms, the Astana doctors have made the decision to prevent it,” Astana said.
Morkov will retire at the end of the year.
He won a level at the 2013 Vuelta a Spain and the gold medal in the Madison track race at the Tokyo Olympics 3 years ago. He is expected to participate in the Paris Games.
Section 12 is a 126-mile flat section from Aurillac to Villeneuve-sur-Lot in southwestern France.