After the World Cup in Hoogerheide on Sunday, one rider tested positive for COVID-19 and half of the Italian team for the UCI Cyclocross World Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas, was removed from the group heading to the US.

Six Italian riders are headed to Arkansas, including elite women's Eva Lechner and national champion Silvia Persico, U23s Lucia Bramati, Samuele Leone, Davide Toneatti, and junior Federica Venturelli.

Six athletes were forced to remain in Europe, either as close contacts or as virus-positive: Jacob Drigoni (elite men), Gaia Lealini (U23 women), juniors Luca Paletti, Samuele Scappini and Tommaso Caffieri, Valentina Corvi.

Drigoni won her first title as an elite rider in early January; Realini finished fifth overall in the elite women's national race and second in the U23 category.

The Belgian team also suffered several retirements due to COVID-19 positives, including Quinten Hermans, who was one of the favorites to win the elite men's race.

After Hermans' test results were known late Sunday night, the Belgian federation, which had already lost junior Fele Urkens to COVID-19, dropped another junior, Zaidi Van Sinay, who tested positive on Sunday.

The Italian Federation, in cooperation with Dutch authorities, President Cordiano Dagnoni, Secretary General Marcello Torr, Team Manager Roberto Amadio, and Health Manager Roberto Corsetti, withdrew six players under existing protocols.

"We tried to resolve the situation in the way allowed by Dutch, Italian, and American regulations," Amadio commented.

"This morning, those who were not in contact with those presumed positive, those who had been vaccinated for the third time, and those who tested negative at local medical facilities, left for the United States."

Racing in Fayetteville will begin with a mixed relay race on Friday, with the other events taking place over the weekend. The other athletes will head to the U.S. on Tuesday.

Cycling News will have coverage of all the races, plus news, interviews, and analysis.