Mauro Veni believes that Simon Yates' positive COVID-19 test has proven the value of the rapid testing system in place at the Giro d'Italia, but the race director acknowledged that the effectiveness of the race "bubble" would be more clearly assessed by testing all teams and staff on rest days He acknowledged that the effectiveness of the system would be more clearly evaluated.

Yates left the Giro before stage 8 on Friday evening after testing positive for coronavirus. Yates' Mitchelton-Scott team had requested a rapid test from race organizer RCS Sport after he complained of a headache following the finish of stage 7 in Brindisi. The test came back positive, and Yates underwent PCR testing.

"Of course we are disappointed to lose an important rider, but this is the first case in 12 days and we are calm. The bubble works and shows that our control is efficient," Veni said during an appearance on RAI's program "Processo alla Tappa" at the stage finish in Vieste on Saturday afternoon.

"If we had followed UCI protocol, we would have had to send his samples to Milan this morning and wait for a response. Instead, our quick inspection allowed us to resolve the situation and keep the bubble alive."

The rest of the Mitchelton-Scott riders and staff were tested for COVID-19 on Friday evening, but no further positive cases were reported. Unlike the Tour de France, a second positive COVID-19 case did not automatically exclude Mitchelton Scott from the Giro.

"We were a bit puzzled because there was only one rider on the team who tested positive. 'We wanted to repeat the test several times. But again, their test results were negative every time."

The Giro will have its first rest day on Monday, when all players and staff will undergo the next PCR test.

"We tested Yates because his team asked for the test, otherwise we would not have known. On Monday there will be a general planning test to test the players and staff. This will be the first important test to determine the health of the bubble," Veni said, telling RAI that the UCI had requested that RCS Sport perform a PCR test instead of a rapid test.

"On Sunday night, 10 teams will be tested and the samples will be sent to Milan during the night. The remaining teams will then be tested on Monday morning and the results will be available by Tuesday morning.

While the PCR tests on Sunday and Monday will reveal details of health conditions inside the moving citadel that is the Giro, events outside the walls may affect the progress of the race leading up to the finale in Milan on October 25.

On Saturday, Italy reported 5,724 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection in a 24-hour period. Concerns were also expressed about the risk of snow in the high mountains during the third week, but Veni insisted that the weather would not interfere with the Giro's arrival in Milan.

"I want to go to Milan and that's what I'm going for," he said. 'A short Giro is something you have to do,' he said. We set out with the intention of going to Milan, and it seems that the entire Giro caravan, including the teams, want to go there."

On Friday, ASO announced that Paris-Roubaix, scheduled for October 25, had been canceled due to the COVID-19 epidemic. The Vuelta a España (October 20-November 8) will be held on the calendar, even though a state of emergency has been declared in Madrid due to the spread of COVID-19.

"To tell you the truth, I would be worried if I were in the position of my friend [Vuelta director] Javier Guillén," Begni said. 'But I think there are mechanisms in place to make sure they are at peace and at ease. I think they can pull it off, as long as nothing extraordinary happens at the national level."