"There may have been other cases that were not disclosed" - Giro director talks about Covid-19 problem as measures are strengthened

Covid-19 has taken over the Giro d'Italia, with several riders abandoning over the last few days including high-level figures such as Remco Evenepoel and Filippo Ganna. Race director Mauro Vegni has discussed the subject and changes that have taken.

For example riders who test positive were not forced to abandon. “That means that any team can test if they want to. The team can then decide whether to take its positive rider off course or not," race director Mauro Vegni told Gazzetta dello Sport. "We've had falls the past few days. There may have been other cases that were not disclosed. I don't put my hand in the fire for that."

That rule does not change, however the one rider - Sven Erik Bystrom - who decided to stay after his diagnosis, has in the meantime left the race as he got symptoms. The outbreak of cases in the Giro lead the race organizers to reinforce measures in press conferences and other locations where there is an agglomeration of press and fans alongside the riders.

“This concerns, among other things, the mouth mask obligation in the zone in which people come into contact with the riders, at the start and at the finish. There is no restriction on the work that can be done, but anyone talking to the riders must wear a face mask. Should we have done it faster? Maybe yes," he concluded.