Half of Italian team out of cyclo-cross Worlds due to COVID-19

CHERBOURG FRANCE JANUARY 16 Silvia Persico of Italy and Team Valcar Travel Service competes during the 5th Flamanville UCI CycloCross Worldcup 2022 Mens Elite UCIcycling CXWorldCup on January 16 2022 in Cherbourg France Photo by Luc ClaessenGetty Images
Italian champion Silvia Persico is one of six riders heading to Worlds in Arkansas (Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

Half of the Italian team for the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas have been removed from the group travelling to the USA after one rider tested positive for COVID-19 following the World Cup in Hoogerheide on Sunday.

Six riders from Italy are on their way to Arkansas: elite women Eva Lechner and national champion Silvia Persico, U23's Lucia Bramati, Samuele Leone, Davide Toneatti and junior Federica Venturelli, along with coach Daniele Pontoni and three support staff in addition to several support staff who had already traveled to the US.

Laura Weislo
Managing Editor

Laura Weislo has been with Cyclingnews since 2006 after making a switch from a career in science. As Managing Editor, she coordinates coverage for North American events and global news. As former elite-level road racer who dabbled in cyclo-cross and track, Laura has a passion for all three disciplines. When not working she likes to go camping and explore lesser traveled roads, paths and gravel tracks. Laura specialises in covering doping, anti-doping, UCI governance and performing data analysis.