Lotto-Soudal's Thomas de Gendt said he was beginning to feel "unsafe" amid fears of COVID-19 cases at the Giro d'Italia and revealed that he had discussed with his teammates before the start of stage 12 at Cesenatico whether they would continue racing.

In contrast, stage 10 winner Peter Sagan insisted on continuing to race, telling Sporza, "I am here to race and I will stay here."

"Be that as it may, the organization has to know what to do. I am not here to decide what to do."

De Gendt, who started Thursday's stage around the mountains behind Cesenatico with seven teammates (one of 144 remaining in the race), compared the race conditions to the bubble of the Tour de France, He revealed his distrust of the race organizer, RCS Sport.

Jumbo Visma, Michael Matthews, and Mitchelton Scott left the race on Tuesday after a series of positive coronavirus tests.

"To be honest, my head is not in the race after the news that 17 police officers were infected," de Gendt told Sporza in Cesenatico.

"Things are going badly in this Giro. I've been talking with the team riders for 20 minutes about whether to start or not.

"The police just accompanied us to the Giro-E. That's their explanation."

Some have pointed out that the positive tests among the athletes and staff of the five teams have jeopardized the protective competition and the team bubbles.

Jos Van Emden, rider of the Jumbo Visma, said at the hotel at the start in Palermo that his team was "four teams, or five teams ...... But the police and motos were there, and the Shimano neutral service and normal people were eating at the same buffet," he said, adding that there was insufficient protection for the teams in the race.

UCI regulations created specifically for the COVID-19 pandemic state that teams should sleep in separate hotel wings and have "a reserved, independent cafeteria whenever possible." Many teams, including Bora-Hansgrohe, Ineos Grenadiers, and UAE Team Emirates, have separate food and canteen tracks at the Giro d'Italia.

On Wednesday, one racer who took part in the race told Cycling News that there is "no real bubble" in the race, adding that "the only bubble around us is the one in our masks." He also questioned why some teams left after testing positive while others, like Sunweb, who were going for GC, were able to stay in the race.

RCS Sports has conducted hundreds of PCR swab tests and rapid tests, and the results of follow-up tests for the five teams will be announced by the weekend. PCR testing will also be conducted on all athletes, team staff, and race staff in the competition bubble around the second rest day on Monday.

Meanwhile, de Gendt said he heard riders coughing in the peloton, adding that he did not want to continue the race for fear of infecting his family.

"There are more than 10 people infected and I heard some riders coughing yesterday. It's cold season, but in the long run I can't concentrate anymore," he said.

"Some players prefer not to start, others don't. Everyone has the freedom to do so. I'm one of those riders who doesn't want to start. We all make our own choices.

"If you stop, you're done. But you can keep going until it's too late. Whether you feel the danger or not' You are on the wrong road. It's not so much for me, but for my family. I don't want to infect anyone - that's what I'm worried about."

De Gendt added that he has no faith in the organization, comparing it negatively to how ASO ran the Tour de France. He said he feels that RCS Sport is trying to finish the race, putting the financial obligations of the race ahead of the safety of the riders.

Shortly after news of the positive example broke before stage 10, race director Mauro Veni told RAI that the goal is to conclude the race in Milan on October 25.

"We definitely want to hold the Giro d'Italia in Milan. We absolutely want the Giro d'Italia to be in Milan, we knew it would be a problem to have the Giro in October."

De Gendt, on the other hand, suspects a delay in the decision.

"If we wait for the teams, the organization, or the government, it will be too late. At the moment I don't have the guts to say I won't start, but it may happen soon."

"I thought the tools were much safer. I thought the tools were much safer. But I feel like the organization is hiding things and adding twists and turns."

"There is a lot of money involved and it is very important for the sponsors to go to Milan. They are waiting for the government to make a decision, but that decision is too late."