Race director Mauro Veni announced that the Giro d'Italia will follow the lead of the Tour de France and will not enforce the "two strikes, team out" rule for coronavirus cases during the competition, which runs from October 3 to 25.

In the Tour, teams that record two positive tests for COVID-19 within seven days will be excluded from the race. Four teams reported coronavirus cases on the first rest day, but by the time the next mandatory test is conducted on Monday's second rest day, the seven-day testing period will have passed.

In Tirreno-Adriatico, Vegni said RCS Sport will take a different approach to dealing with coronavirus cases in the October Giro race "bubble."

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (opens in new tab), "It's not something I agree with," Vegni said; under UCI rules, organizers "can" take such action, but not "have to." If there is a positive case, we follow protocol and isolate it. I then test that team every day from the day of the first positive test.

"I will test, but I will not send the team home. I think it is the right thing to do, and it is respectful of those who have nothing to hide in such a situation. Those who test positive are certainly not bandits. I would obviously consider protecting them from a health standpoint, but I would not invalidate the work of the team that has been preparing for a year for a big event."

The 2020 Giro was originally scheduled to run from May 9-31, with the Grande Partenza in Budapest, but due to a coronavirus outbreak it was postponed to March and the start was moved to Palermo on October 3.

RCS Sport has hosted most of the races since resuming competition in August, including Strade Bianche, Milan-San Remo, Il Lombardia, and the current Tirreno-Adriatico, and Veni is optimistic that the rescheduled Giro will also be held. In an interview with RAI television, Veni noted that the Giro could have limited spectator access, adding that it all depends on the public health measures in place in Italy at the time.

"From the start to the finish, the idea is to maintain a 'bubble' for the teams. Despite the many challenges, we feel we are moving in the right direction," Begni said. 'From here to October, our biggest worry is the evolution of health measures.'