Giro d’Italia boss Mauro Vegni demands that the UCI cycling association imposes a penalty on Jumbo-Visma and Education First. The Italian threatens to no longer invite both teams to the Tour of Italy.
Jumbo-Visma left the race after the first day of rest, after leader Steven Kruijswijk tested positive for the corona virus. Education First called for the price to end a week earlier due to the increasing number of corona infections.
“Sanctions must follow for both teams, I hope for the support of the UCI,” said Vegni on Tuesday. Gazzetta dello Sport. “I think this is a matter for the disciplinary committee.
In addition to Jumbo-Visma, Mitchelton-SCOTT also left the Giro on the first day of rest, but that team would have consulted Vegni about this. At Mitchelton, not only leader Simon Yates tested positive, but also four staff members.
Vegni believes that Jumbo-Visma has not adhered to the rules by leaving the course after one positive test. “If a team violates the WorldTour rules, I don’t have to feel obliged to invite that team again next year,” he said.
Vegni does not understand a rider’s strike
The Italian previously threatened with a sanction against teams that took the initiative on the last Friday to shorten a flat stage of 258 kilometers due to the bad weather. The organization did not give the prize money for that ride to the riders, but to a good cause.
“I still don’t understand why this had to happen,” said Vegni. “The riders just decided to stop in the street, instead of talking to us.”
The Australian Adam Hansen was the riders ‘discussion partner with the organization on behalf of the cyclists’ union CPA. “The Giro was the last race of his career. It says enough that they just pushed him forward?”, Says Vegni.
Four riders and a handful of staff members tested positive for the corona virus during the race. The Giro Boss himself is very satisfied with how the race went. “You were safer from the virus in our bubble than at home.”
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