French teams Groupama-FDJ and Cofidis were released from quarantine for their UAE tour about a week ahead of schedule, allowing the players and staff to return home on Sunday.

Both Gazprom Rusvelo and UAE Team Emirates remain in quarantine following the discovery of suspected coronavirus during their UAE tour.

Groupama-FDJ, Cofidis, Gazprom-RusVelo, and UAE Team Emirates were scheduled to remain quarantined until March 14, but were told overnight that they could leave immediately after the French team did not test positive.

The team had been tested several times since the infection was first suspected, and had been confined to the fourth floor of the team's hotel, which was suspected to be the epicenter of the infection.

The riders and staff have already left the hotel and most are on flights back to mainland Europe. Several riders are expected to arrive at European airports within the next few hours.

The nightmarish situation began on the night of February 27 when the Abu Dhabi hotel where the racing riders, staff, and media were staying was sealed off due to two suspected cases of Covid 19 coronavirus infection.

The athletes were tested overnight and most were allowed to leave on Sunday, March 1. However, more positive tests were to come, and on March 3 the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention reported that two Russians, two Italians, a German, and a Colombian had been infected with the virus.

The infected were members of the UAE Team Emirates and Gazprom-Rusvelo athletic teams, but since Cofidis and Groupama-FDJ were staying on the same floor of the hotel, they too were instructed to remain in isolation until March 14.

Throughout this ordeal, many Cofidis members spoke out about the situation, and due to the lack of information provided and slow progress, director Roberto Damiani threatened to go on hunger strike to defend the team.

Team photographer Mathilde L'Azou told Cyclingnews that team morale is low, and rider Nathan Haas said the situation is testing people's patience and "starting to wreak havoc."

Meanwhile, Groupama-FDJ manager Marc Madiot said he has been in contact with the French government to lobby for the release of the riders.

Things appeared to have calmed down as the March 14 quarantine was notified, the end date was fixed, and the athletes were given bicycles and home trainers to continue exercising and training.

Groupama-FDJ athletes had signed up for a virtual race at Zwift on Sunday, but are now flying instead.