The UCI responded to concerns about the COVID-19 situation at the Giro d'Italia by announcing that race organizer RCS Sport will conduct further tests on Thursday and Friday, prior to the already coordinated tests to be conducted on the second rest day of the race next Monday.

The move comes after several members of the peloton spoke about safety and the race "bubble." Jos van Emden, whose Jumbo Visma team left the race after Steven Kruijswijk's positive test, said the Dutch team had dinner with four other teams, police, race staff, and members of the public.

Before the start of Thursday's stage 12, Thomas de Gendt of Lotto Soudal said he was "starting to feel unsafe" in the race, and EF Pro Cycling then sent a letter to the UCI and RCS Sport requesting that the race be cancelled on Monday and two rounds of inspections before a rest day They also requested.

In response, RCS Sport agreed to the request from the teams and the UCI to conduct further testing over the next two days.

"The International Cycling Union (UCI) is closely monitoring the health of the Giro d'Italia in collaboration with the organizer RCS and the competent Italian authorities," the UCI said in a statement to Cycling News. [Following the identification of eight positive COVID-19 cases as a result of PCR tests carried out on the first rest day according to the UCI protocol, the organizers, at our request and that of the teams, have agreed to conduct saliva antigen tests today (Thursday) and Friday before the PCR tests on the second rest day (Monday the 19th). It was agreed to strengthen the measures by introducing.

The UCI statement added that RCS Sport will take steps to further ensure the Giro d'Italia "bubble." Earlier this week, a rider in the race told Cycling News that "the only bubble around us is the one in our masks."

On Thursday morning, it was revealed that 17 police officers tested positive for COVID-19 at the Giro-E (an electric bicycle race held prior to the arrival of the Giro stages). They were quarantined in Francavilla a Mare in Abruzzo.

After stage 12, race director Mauro Veni defended the existing measures taken to protect the race, even suggesting that the teams themselves were responsible for the spread of the virus.

In a statement, the UCI did not elaborate on what additional measures would be implemented at the Giro.

"The organizers have also committed to implementing measures to ensure the race bubble, a central principle of the UCI Statutes," the UCI said. The results of these measures will be closely monitored and additional measures will be taken if they prove necessary," the UCI said.

"The UCI would like to recall that each individual participating in the race and each cycling family must respect the basic principles of risk reduction (social distancing, wearing masks) and do their part.

." Each of us must now take on the challenge of arriving in Milan on October 25 for the final stage of the Giro d'Italia and then finishing the rest of the season." "This can be achieved by continuing the spirit of cooperation and unity in professional cycling."