TOKYO, July 23 (Xinhua) -- The Spanish cycling team will still compete in the men's road race on Sunday although one of their masseurs tested positive for COVID-19.
The Spanish Olympic Committee (SOC) confirmed the news in a tweet informing that "after the positive test result of the masseur Joseba Eguezabal, all of the members of the national team have taken a PCR test, the result of which is negative and they will be able to compete tomorrow (Saturday) increasing sanitary health measures."
Spain's participation had been placed in doubt after the President of Spain's Superior Sports Committee, Jose Manuel Franco explained on Spanish national radio that "there has been a slight last-minute problem with the cycling, a positive from a masseur, but I hope it doesn't affect the rest of the team."
The health protocols in place for the Olympic Games stipulate that anyone with "close contact" with people who test positive have to go into isolation (and cyclists are usually in close contact with their masseurs), which raised serious questions over whether or not the Spanish are qualified to compete as usual.
Spain is one of just six teams allowed to participate in the gruelling 234-kilometer road race with a team of five riders (Alejandro Valverde, Gorka Izagirre, Ion Izagirre, Omar Fraile and Jesus Herrada) with Valverde, Fraile and Ion Izagirre all having medal options depending on how the race develops.
Slovenians Tadej Pogacar and Primoz Roglic, Britain's Geraint Thomas, and the Belgians Wout van Aert, Remco Evanpool and reigning Olympic champion Greg van Avermaet are also among the favorites for the race. Enditem