Giro d'Italia director calls for 'sanctions' on Jumbo-Visma and EF Pro Cycling after COVID-19 dispute

LAGHI DI CANCANO ITALY OCTOBER 22 Arrival Mauro Vegni of Italy Giro dItalia Director Mask Covid safety measures during the 103rd Giro dItalia 2020 Stage 18 a 207km stage from Pinzolo to Laghi di Cancano Parco Nazionale dello Stelvio 1945m girodiitalia Giro on October 22 2020 in Laghi di Cancano Italy Photo by Stuart FranklinGetty Images
Giro d'Italia director Mauro Vegni at stage 18 of the Giro d'Italia (Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

Giro d'Italia director Mauro Vegni has restated that he wants some form of punishment for Jumbo-Visma and EF Pro Cycling after their actions at the race.

The Italian has called for "sanctions" against the two teams after the Dutch squad withdrew from the race following Steven Kruijswijk's positive COVID-19 test on the first rest day, while EF wrote a letter calling on organisers RCS Sport and the UCI to stop the race at the second rest day.

Dani Ostanek
Senior News Writer

Dani Ostanek is Senior News Writer at Cyclingnews, joining in 2017 as a freelance contributor and later being hired full-time. Before joining the team, they had written for numerous major publications in the cycling world, including CyclingWeekly and Rouleur.

Dani has reported from the world's top races, including the Tour de France, Road World Championships, and the spring Classics. They have interviewed many of the sport's biggest stars, including Mathieu van der Poel, Demi Vollering, and Remco Evenepoel. Their favourite races are the Giro d'Italia, Strade Bianche and Paris-Roubaix.

Season highlights from the 2024 season include reporting from Paris-Roubaix –  'Unless I'm in an ambulance, I'm finishing this race' – Cyrus Monk, the last man home at Paris-Roubaix – and the Tour de France – 'Disbelief', gratitude, and family – Mark Cavendish celebrates a record-breaking Tour de France sprint win.