Simon Clarke has examined optimistic for COVID-19 in pre-Tour Down Underneath workforce testing however hopes to get well in time to experience the Australian stage race which begins subsequent Tuesday.
The Israel-Premier Tech workforce mentioned that Clarke was “presently asymptomatic” and that he would stay at dwelling in Victoria. He’ll skip Saturday night’s warm-up criterium and solely be part of his Israel-Premier Tech teammates in Adelaide for the Tour Down Underneath “as soon as he produces a unfavorable check.”
Present Australian COVID-19 guidelines don’t embrace an compulsory Isolation interval and so Clarke might journey to Adelaide and compete within the Tour Down Underneath if he checks unfavorable or has a low viral load earlier than Tuesday night’s opening prologue time trial.
The UCI has but to formally replace its full COVID-19 protocol for the 2023 season.
Cyclingnews understands that the brand new guidelines are anticipated to take away the compulsory pre-race testing for groups however protocols for managing COVID-19 circumstances throughout races and different recommendation is more likely to stay.
Clarke was anticipated to guide Israel-Premier Tech on the Tour Down Underneath together with former two-time winner Daryl Impey. He completed third on the Australian nationwide championships final Sunday behind solo winner Luke Plapp (Ineos Grenadiers) and Michael Matthews (Jayco-Aula), displaying some early-season type.
The 36-year-old Australian was handed a lifeline by Israel-Premier Tech in January 2022 after he was left with out a contract following the demise of the Qhubeka-NextHash workforce.
He loved a profitable 2022 season, successful the stage throughout the cobblestone of Paris-Roubaix on the Tour de France. That secured him a brand new contract with Israel-Premier Tech for 2023 and 2024.
