The UCI and Unipublic, organizer of the Vuelta a España, announced that simultaneous inspections conducted on the first rest day of the race yielded no positive results.

684 COVID-19 tests were conducted in Vitoria-Gasteiz on Monday, with the entire race "bubble" tested. The negative result for all tests is the first Grand Tour test conducted on the first rest day.

The latest round of inspections followed two rounds before the race start in Irun. Cofidis' Jesús Herrada missed the Vuelta after testing positive the week before the race, while Team Sunweb and Bahrain McLaren staff left the race after testing positive in the final pre-race check.

"Following the pandemic of the coronavirus, the entire "race bubble" was tested on the first rest day in accordance with the La Vuelta 20 health protocol developed in the framework of the rules for the resumption of the cycling season by the International Cycling Union (UCI)," a statement from the UCI Announced. [After being inspected as part of the "race bubble" prior to the official start in Irún and upon arrival in La Vuelta, the riders and staff participating in the race were inspected a third time on the first rest day. The purpose of this testing campaign was to ensure the race health of athletes and certified staff facing the new coronavirus.

"Overall, all 684 tests performed were negative.

"The organizers of La Vuelta and the UCI would like to thank all the teams and riders for their cooperation and the vigilance they have shown and continue to show until the finish in Madrid.

On the first rest day of the Tour de France, positive tests came from the staff of Cofidis, AG2R La Mondiale, Ineos Grenadier, and Mitchelton Scott. In the Giro d'Italia, positive tests were obtained from eight staff members, including four from Steven Kruijswijk (Jumbo Visma), Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb), and Mitchelton Scott. Tests conducted on the second rest day of both races yielded only negative results.

In addition to the three positive tests before the start, Vuelta was also affected by COVID-19 during the race.

Spectators were banned from watching the race's major climbs, including the Alto de l'Arate on stage 1 and the Angliru on stage 12, and on stage 6 on Sunday, the French authorities refused to enter the race beyond the Col de Portale, Col d'Aubisque and Col du Tourmalet The route was therefore changed to a finish at the summit of the Alam Formigal.

In Spain, as in many other European countries, COVID-19 continues to increase as the second wave of the virus spreads. Last week, Spain became the first country in Western Europe to surpass the one million mark, with the number of daily infections exceeding 20,000 for the first time.

On Sunday, the Spanish government declared a six-month state of emergency and imposed a nationwide curfew from 11 pm to 6 am. However, at least for now, race director Javier Guillén is hopeful that the race can continue and reach Madrid.

Over the next 10 days, the Vuelta will travel west across northern Spain, passing through the heavily affected Basque and La Rioja regions and the northwestern regions of Asturias and Galicia. The final phase is scheduled to end in Madrid, where one in 23 people tested positive during the pandemic.