Berlin, 17 July 2024 (dpa/MIA) — Belgian rider Maxim Van Gils has become the fourth rider to leave the Tour de France after contracting the coronavirus.

Van Gils' Lotto-Dstny team said on Tuesday that he has tested positive and showed mild symptoms on the rest day Monday.

Denmark's Michael Mørkøv, Juan Ayuso of Spain and Britain's Thomas Pidcock had previously left the Tour due to COVID-19.

Former Tour winner Geraint Thomas has also tested positive but is continuing the race which ends on Sunday.

Coronavirus tests are not mandatory at the Tour, and record stage winner Mark Cavendish told German broadcasters ARD he know of several riders who were continuing despite positive tests.

Following infection by the coronavirus, some people develop Long COVID, or Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC), a wide range of persistent respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, gastrointestinal, and endocrine problems, which impact their lives for months or years.

Emerging evidence also suggests that COVID-19 damages the immune system.