BikeExchange-Jayco have withdrawn from the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana ahead of Friday's third stage after two members of the squad tested positive for COVID-19.
The team reported that the two test results came on Thursday evening as part of the daily testing protocols in place at the race. All riders and staff have now left the race and medical staff are working to move team members into quarantine, the team reported.
Movistar also announced that two of their riders – Juri Hollmann and Einer Rubio – headed home after positive tests, though the team will continue in the race.
"As a precautionary measure, in accordance with strict team policy, and having already had to withdraw one rider due to injury, the decision was made to withdraw from the event, with the health of riders, staff and all those involved in the race being the priority. The race organisation was informed of the situation immediately," stated BikeExchange-Jayco in a press release.
"Team BikeExchange-Jayco’s medical team are now working to move riders and staff safely to areas of quarantine where necessary, and to continue further testing."
Chris Juul-Jensen was a non-starter on Thursday's second stage, while the remaining members of the squad – Luccas Hamilton, Dion Smith, Tsgabu Grmay, Damien Howson and Kaden Groves – will not take the start of stage 3, which runs from Alicante to the summit finish at Antenas del Maigmó.
Team manager Brent Copeland thanked the race organisation for their understanding and support.
"The safety of all our riders and staff, and that of everyone involved in the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana is of the utmost importance, and we believe the only correct decision to be taken in these circumstances is to withdraw from the race," he said.
"We would like to thank the race organisation for their understanding and support, and will continue to carry out our team policy to ensure the safest possible outcome."
Movistar also announced on Thursday that two riders, Einer Rubio and Juri Hollmann had tested positive for COVID-19 after stage 1 and had headed for home. However, the rest of the team has returned negative tests and continue in the race.
Regulations governing who decides on whether a team remains or not in the race during the pandemic have varied, with the initial protocol in 2020 decided by race organisers and the UCI stating that any team with two members – staff or riders – testing positive within the space of a week had to pull out.
That then switched to two riders in the space of a week, before the protocol changed again this year, with different rules governing Grand Tours and other events.
Although each team has its' own internal regulations regarding whether they pull out or not, a rather vaguely worded paragraph seems to state organisers do have the last word on what happens without making it 100 percent clear that's the case.
The UCI regulations governing COVID-19 positives state – in the French version – that:
"For all races apart from Grand Tours, in the case of a confirmed COVID-19, the doctor responsible for COVID-19 in the race will provide all relevant information to the race organiser, who will be responsible for whatever measures are necessary for the event after discussion with the national health authorities.
"The organiser of the race will talk to the UCI medical director and representatives both of riders and teams before decisions are taken. These decisions do not concern those people in quarantine, which remains the full respnsibility of the COVID doctor and the national health authorities."
It's the first time that a positive COVID-19 test has forced riders or teams to withdraw from a race during the 2022 season, though the virus and the Omicron variant had already affected pre-season camps. Jumbo-Visma were forced to cut theirs short after a positive test among the team, while Miguel Angel López and Peter Sagan were among the riders who had their January disrupted by close contacts and positive tests.
