Another three riders sent home from Vuelta a Burgos after contact with someone who has coronavirus
After Britain’s Alex Dowsett was pulled from the race, three more have also had to leave
Another three riders have been sent home from the Vuelta a Burgos after contact with someone who has coronavirus.
Sebastian Molano, Cristian Munoz and Camilo Ardila, all from UAE Team Emirates, will not start stage two of the Spanish stage race.
The news emerged after Britain’s Alex Dowsett and one of his Israel Start-Up Nation team-mates missed the start of the race as a coronavirus precaution.
Colombians Molano, Munoz and Ardila have all been isolated and sent home for further testing, UAE Team Emirates has confirmed.
A statement from the team said: “Sebastian Molano, Cristian Munoz and Camilo Ardila will not start the second stage of the Vuelta a Burgos.
“The three Colombian athletes on Saturday had been in recent contact with a person who turned out to be positive at COVID-19 yesterday. Following the protocol of the Team and the UCI, the three riders were isolated, sent home and will all undergo another test.
“All three riders returned two negative tests in the days prior to the race.”
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Earlier this week Israel Start-Up Nation confirmed that one of their riders, Omer Goldstein, had tested positive for coronavirus.
While Goldstein wasn’t scheduled to race in Burgos, he had recently been in contact with his compatriot and team-mate Itamar Einhorn who was due to start the race.
Einhorn and Dowsett were both re-tested, along with staff members who were in contact with Einhorn.
But the results did not arrive in time for the start of stage one, which meant both riders had to be pulled from the race.
The results have now confirmed that Einhorn has not contracted coronavirus from Goldstein.
In a statement on Twitter, Dowsett said: “It was a big disappointment that I couldn’t take the start of Vuelta a Burgos today, watching my team-mates heading off wasn’t easy.
“Having unknowingly been in contact with a rider who was in contact with another rider that returned a positive test for coronavirus, the risk of me returning a positive was very slim (and has since come back negative) but in these times there should be zero risk.”
Dowsett added that he supported and respected the decision to withdraw him from the race.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers. Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
-
I'm about to turn 40 - how can I keep riding fast?
Approaching a landmark birthday, Charlie Graham-Dixon explores how ageing affects cycling performance and what can be done to stay ahead of the curve
By Charlie Graham-Dixon Published
-
Life Time Grand Prix to have fewer riders and wild cards in 2025
The flagship US gravel series has confirmed the six races that will be a part of the competition next year
By Adam Becket Published