A request by the EF Pro Cycling team to cancel the Giro d'Italia on Monday's second day of rest, citing a "clearly dangerous bubble," was rejected by the UCI.

According to Eurosport (opens in new tab), the letter was sent to Giro d'Italia race organizer RCSport, the UCI, and other teams and officials, and EF Pro Cycling said that based on the positive tests so far, "further illness is expected to occur" and that "the Giro and the UCI World Tour would be better served by an organized and holistic approach rather than a disorderly team-by-team withdrawal."

The UCI rejected EF Pro Cycling's request and UCI President David Lapartiento reportedly wrote: "We now face the challenge of ending the season, which can be achieved by continuing the spirit of cooperation and solidarity in pro cycling.

"With these measures, we trust in everyone's cooperation on the common goal of continuing our sport in the safest possible conditions. The results of these measures will be closely monitored for the continuation of the Games and for additional measures."

The UCI then announced that in addition to the inspections scheduled for Monday's second rest day, general inspections of teams will take place on Thursday and Friday, telling Cycling News:" The organizers have agreed, at our request and that of the teams, to introduce saliva antigen testing today (Thursday) and Friday before the next PCR tests to be conducted on the second rest day to strengthen the measures."

Regardless of the results of future tests, EF will withdraw from the Giro d'Italia in the event of a positive test in the team.

News of the letter comes hours after it was revealed that 17 police bike officers tested positive for COVID-19 from the E-Giro event, which corresponds to the daily electric bike race held before the arrival of the Giro. They were quarantined in Francavilla a Mare in Abruzzo.

Simon Yates, Steven Kruiswijk, and Michael Matthews tested positive for COVID-19, along with four staff members of the Mitchelton Scott team and one staff member from Ineos Grenadiers and AG2R-La Mondiale. Mitchelton Scott and Jumbo Visma chose to abstain from the Giro d'Italia on Tuesday, while the others are concerned about their health if they continue with the Giro d'Italia.

RCS Sport has been instrumental in establishing a strict COVID-19 protocol and has conducted hundreds of PCR swab tests and rapid tests, and the UCI has announced that general team screenings will take place on Thursday and Friday in addition to the tests scheduled for Monday's second rest day

"The UCI has also announced that the team's general screening will take place on Thursday and Friday in addition to the testing scheduled for the second rest day on Monday.

"While we hope to remain in the race until the official early finish, in the unlikely event that someone from our team tests positive, or if a rider or staff member becomes uncomfortable with the situation, we will leave the race at that point," the EF said in its letter.

Dear RCS, UCI, officials, and teams

Thank you for your efforts to organize a safe and attractive Giro d'Italia. We have enjoyed the race so far, and we look forward to the next Giro d'Italia.

Unfortunately, there was this news:

- 11 positive tests have been reported in 4 teams within the "bubble" of the peloton

- estimated positive rate of ~2%, protected population, asymptomatic population, very low positive rate

- Mass transmission among teams within a peloton

- Further illness is expected due to the obvious danger bubble and the expected time lag between exposure and symptoms/positive reactions. This is not absolute, but following the precautionary principle, we will act responsibly and adopt a conservative approach

. In the interest of the health and safety of the riders, staff, and the communities in which we race, we recommend that the Giro be cancelled early. We believe it is better for the Giro and for the UCI World Tour if this is done in an organized and holistic manner rather than a disorderly team-by-team withdrawal, and a second rest day seems a natural break to declare the 2020 Giro d'Italia a victory and a success. In the meantime, we support the following ideas:

- Conduct at least two covid tests before the rest day and accelerate the end of the race if additional tests are positive before the rest day

- Properly seal the team paddocks in both the start and finish areas to Reinforce safety.

While we are willing to remain in the race until the official early finish, if anyone on our team tests positive, or if any rider or staff member is uncomfortable with this situation, they will leave the race at that point.

We appreciate your consideration and continued concern for this situation.