Canadian rider discusses coronavirus-related lockdown for UAE Tour teams

Ottawa native Alex Cataford, the solo Canadian at the UAE Tour, is on lockdown in the team’s Abu Dhabi hotel. On Thursday, the event, which was supposed to run for seven stages, was cancelled after the fifth stage because two Italian staff members on one of the teams tested positive for COVID-19.

“They’ve taken some preliminary tests of everyone and should get back to us later this evening or tomorrow,” Cataford said Friday evening in Abu Dhabi. “Then they will make the decision if we head home as normally on Sunday or not.”

Cataford felt the media attention on the lockdown and testing might make the events seem more dramatic than they actually are.

So you find yourself turning abruptly from a world class rider to a citizen of the global village hit by the latest crisis: The #coronavirus . ISN’s @M_Braendle , awaiting the word in Abu Dhabi , has this to say: #UAETour pic.twitter.com/RLYz0V8TCC

— Israel Start-Up Nation / Israel Cycling Academy (@YallaIsraelSUN) February 28, 2020

Friday evening, Cataford and his Israel Start-Up Nation team were feeling some effects from the confinement. “We are all a bit bored after being stuck in the hotel all day,” he said. “But overall mood is fine and we are all confident the right decision will be made soon.”

The day of the UAE Tour cancellation, Italy had reported 650 cases of COVID-19 and 17 deaths. The region hardest hit is Lombardy with some towns under quarantine. In UAE, health authorities
put up thermal detectors at ports as precaution.

ISN updating the #coronavirus situation in the #UAETour : Our directors briefed the riders that so far the virus tests for the teams are NEGATIVE although not yet completed. Expected final results: In couple of hours.fingers crossed?.

— Israel Start-Up Nation / Israel Cycling Academy (@YallaIsraelSUN) February 28, 2020