Just 24 hours after the EF Pro Cycling team, led by Jonathan Vaughters, proposed to Giro d'Italia organizers that the race be held on a second rest day on Monday to unify the race in order to limit the risk of further transmission of the COVID-19 coronavirus, his riders and staff made it clear that they wished to continue to the finish in Milan. Giro race director Mauro Veni confirmed that further tests would be conducted to identify those infected with COVID-19 and allay concerns about the virus during the race.

Veni revealed on Italian television in Monselice after stage 13 that 11 teams were tested Thursday night and all tested negative. The remaining nine teams will be tested on Friday night and will know the results before Saturday's time trial.

In accordance with UCI's COVID-19 protocol, a further PCR swab test will be conducted on Monday's second rest day.

"We will continue testing almost every day so that we can arrive in Milan," Veni said. 'When a racing caravan of 2,000 people travels throughout Italy for 25 days, it is normal for some to be infected with COVID-19, even if they are in a protective bubble. Very few compared to normal life. We have not seen numbers that would jeopardize the holding of the Giro."

Eight cases of COVID-19 were confirmed on the first rest day after Simon Yates tested positive in the opening week. Jumbo Visma and Mitchelton Scott are already out of the race. Jumbo's Steven Kruisjuk and Team Sunweb's Michael Matthews tested positive on Monday, but Matthews has tested negative twice in subsequent tests.

In a letter to the UCI, along with Giro organizer RCS Sport and the teams participating in the Giro, EF Pro Cycling said it would withdraw from the Giro if any of its riders or staff tested positive The UCI denied EF's request to cancel the race but mentioned additional testing.

Voter.

Vaughters feels that the team's letter fell on deaf ears and regrets that it did not go further, despite being an attempt at cooperation. However, the request was considered divisive and even offensive by many in the Italian cycling community and Giro d'Italia entourage.

"Perhaps this letter was sent from the US with a nice beer on the table, rather than someone being here to see the efforts being made by their riders and staff," said Veni, who is clearly in the US and not participating in the Giro d'Italia He took aim at Vaughters. Veni called for greater sporting unity, understanding that everyone in the Giro d'Italia is working hard to keep the race safe.

"It's natural for everyone to be scared. Everyone's health is important, so I understand everyone's concern and the team's concern. I have a staff of 700 people and they have to endure this situation too.

"But we have to give a clear answer that will put people at ease. We've done a couple of tests on the race tissue and they've all come back negative. But for now we are confident that we are doing the right thing. I hope the teams will pass on the same assurances to their riders and not let them worry."

Thomas de Gendt (Lotto Soudal), who had expressed concern on Thursday morning, also changed his views after Friday's stage, speaking in a more reassuring tone.

"I spoke from the heart about my concerns. At that time I didn't have all the facts yet, so I made a premature comment that could have potentially hurt RCS. I want to apologize for this," he wrote on social media.

"My feeling of danger about Covid is a normal personal feeling at the moment. I do not feel in danger during the race.

EF Pro Cycling's Directeur Sportif, Fabrizio Guidi, and road captain Simon Clark have made it clear that the team wants to stay in the race and finish in Milan on Sunday, October 25.

"Jonathan Vaughters is very concerned about the health of the riders and staff. This letter is to assure you that we are being cared for as best we can," Clark explained to Italian television Friday morning.

"We ran further tests last night [Thursday] and they were all negative. So as long as they are negative, we will continue to race. We are making sure that all safety requirements have been met and all procedures have been completed. So far, things are going well. We are doing what we can to protect the bubble. I think we can make it to Milan."

Guidi suggested that the letter overestimated the status of the race. He preferred a more conciliatory approach, expressing his own affection for the Giro d'Italia.

"The whole group here wants to continue the race all the way to Milan. We want to race as we have always done, with all our hearts and with the desire to win," he told Italian television station RAI. Of course, there is the pandemic. Of course there is a pandemic, but we feel safe and we want to continue.