Astana's Ugo Ure will be inactive for an unknown period of time after testing positive for the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, although he has no symptoms of COVID-19. According to Quebec news media outlet LaPresse (opens in new tab), he plans to compete in the Tirreno Adriatico and Giro d'Italia next month.

According to the Astana team, Houle will undergo another examination this week and the results are expected to arrive on Friday.

The 29-year-old is the third person to contract the virus in the propeloton since the rescheduled season began in late July. Israel Startup Nation's Omer Goldstein tested positive once, and he and teammates Itamar Einhorn and Alex Dowsett have withdrawn from the Vuelta a Burgos.

AG2R La Mondiale's Sylvain Dillier withdrew from the Strade Bianche after testing positive for the final COVID-19 coronavirus test before the race.

As part of the UCI's medical protocol, riders and team staff with the so-called team bubble condition must undergo regular COVID-19 testing to detect any cases.

Houle had passed two COVID-19 tests before the Tour de Pollogne, but tested positive last week. Foure said he has no idea how he contracted the virus because he uses hand sanitizer, wears a mask when not on his bike, and washes his hands frequently

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"It must have happened in transit or in a hotel," Houle told La Presse. Currently quarantined in his apartment in Monaco, he speculates that he may have contracted the infection from the communal cafeteria at the race, which closed on August 9. "At the buffet, if the cooks are infected, as I am, it doesn't mean they don't feel it. You can't tell with a fork, with a knife, with your mouth."

Foure was the only athlete from his team to test positive for the virus. His roommates at the Tour de Pollogne, Spaniards Ion Izaguirre and Jacob Fuglsang, both tested negative. Foure, who was scheduled to support Fuglsang at Il Lombardia, was replaced by Davide Martinelli.

Foure instead watched the race from his couch and was pleased with Fuglsang's victory. I'm happy for Fuglsang to win, and I'm happy for (Alexandre) Vlasov who finished third," Foure said. Of course I would have liked to have been there, but I don't blame myself."

Four days after the positive test, Houle still had no symptoms and said he would not have known if he were not a professional cyclist and had not had to be tested before Lombardia.

"I would have been living a normal life. He was not unusually tired. No fever, no cough, no lung or back pain, no loss of appetite.

"That in itself is not a disaster. There is time to rebuild the form. If the next test is negative, I think I will be able to ride out there on Thursday."

If the tests come back negative, his next races will be the Bretagne Classic Ouest-France next week and the Tour Poitou-Charentes (August 27-30).