Tiesj Benoot (open in new tab) is confirmed to be in contact with Jan Bakelants (Circus-Wanty Gobert), who tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday, at the start line of Gent-Wevelgem (open in new tab) on Sunday. They will not join their teammates at Sunweb (open in new tab).

The team will be in a protective "bubble" during the race to prevent infection, but both athletes were guests on Sporza's TV show "Extra Time Koers" (open in new tab) after the race at Brabants Pile on Wednesday.

Sunweb announced on Twitter on Saturday afternoon that "Tiesj is currently symptom free and feeling well and will go into quarantine before undergoing PCR testing next week."

Benoot responded, "It feels very strange not to be able to start tomorrow. But if this is the sacrifice we have to make, I think it is the only right choice. Good luck to his teammates tomorrow

Bakelants tested negative before Brabantse Pijl, but started showing symptoms on Friday after returning home. He tested positive for COVID-19 and was quarantined, but the rest of the team is preparing to race in Ghent-Wevelgem.

The coronavirus pandemic first penetrated the professional cycling community when several riders and staff members tested positive during the UAE Tour in February. Fernando Gaviria and Max Richeze (UAE Team Emirates) were quarantined until the virus was cleared.

Strict measures to close sporting events, including professional cycling, schools, restaurants, bars, and cinemas, and to enforce stay-at-home laws throughout Europe, ensured that the spread of the virus was well under control before the road season resumed in July.

However, the number of people infected with the virus increased dramatically over the past month as many countries reopened and international travel resumed.

At the Tour de France, only race director Christian Prudhomme was infected with the virus.

One Astana rider contracted COVID-19 after the UCI Road World Championships race in Imola, forcing the team to withdraw two riders from the Giro d'Italia.

At the Giro d'Italia, Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) began showing symptoms on Saturday and tested positive for COVID-19.

The Paris-Roubaix and the Amstel Gold Race, which was scheduled to take place today, have been cancelled due to the rising number of infections in Northern France and the Netherlands.

Mauro Veni, director of the Giro d'Italia, expressed concern for the race, saying, "Above all, this situation means that the level of the epidemic is rising, which is worrying as we still have two weeks of the Giro left."