The Mitchelton-Scott team, which withdrew from the Giro d'Italia before stage 10, will have 48 hours to assess the situation and confer to decide whether to compete in the Vuelta a España amid a surge in COVID-19 cases across Europe, The last Grand Tour of this truncated season will start next week on September 20.

Last week, Mitchelton Scott's Giro d'Italia leader Simon Yates tested positive for COVID-19 and was forced to withdraw from the race. Prior to Tuesday's stage 10, the team decided to withdraw from the race in conjunction with RCS, the organizers of the Giro d'Italia. Jumbo Visma followed suit, as did GC leader Steven Kruijswijk, who tested positive for the virus.

While Mitchelton-Scott management will not make an immediate decision to participate in the Vuelta a España, general manager Brent Copeland said that if the number of cases in Spain continues to rise and staff and riders are concerned about racing, the team will take a social Cycling News that the team will take a responsible stance.

"We're not going to make a decision tomorrow, but we're going to have an open discussion about where we're going next because the number of infected people in Spain is rising rapidly," Copeland told Cycling News.

"We'll see how things go in a few days, but I don't want to be in the same situation as the Giro at the Vuelta. At this point we want to go, but if we discuss it internally and there are concerns about going, we will make a decision based on social responsibility."

According to Copeland, even with the Giro roster and team staff isolated now, the team has the talent to compete in the Vuelta, but the central issue is safety and the health of those within the Mitchelton Scott bubble. The Giro experience has highlighted that despite the good intentions of the organization and the team, there is still no real defense against the coronavirus.

"As for the logistical side, we have it covered," Copeland said of the Vuelta.

"The problem is the same for everyone, because with the number of infected people increasing all over Europe, everyone is being cautious. Taking players and staff to areas where there are a lot of people infected with this virus is a decision about social responsibility from an ethical point of view. We are looking into that as well and will be discussing it tomorrow with Jerry Ryan and Darrack McQuaid at the management level. If the numbers continue as they are, and as we saw in the Giro, there is still a positive case to be made no matter how hard we try to stay within the bubble.

"The scary thing is that we had two nights of negative results followed by four positive results on Sunday. There is still a big question mark over how this virus works, and it comes down to social responsibility; as for the UCI regulations, we could have started, but I thought it would be unethical to do so with so many positives in the team."

It should be emphasized that no decisions have been made so far and that the final decision regarding the Vuelta will be made by the Spanish authorities.

"It all depends on the numbers. Athletes and staff may have pregnant wives or partners or small children. It's a difficult decision to keep them far away from their families and isolate them in hotels," Copeland said.

"You have to take into account the visibility of the sponsors and the sporting aspect, but the health and well-being of the athletes and staff is secondary.