Team Ineos pulls some riders from racing after Covid19 positive test

Gianni Moscon digs in as he tries to stay with George Bennett at the recent Gran Piemonte. Moscon was one of the favourites for tomorrow's Italian road race championships but is out of the race as Leonardo Basso has tested positive for Covid19 (Photo: Marco Alpozzi)

Team Ineos has pulled a number of its riders from racing and has told them to self-quarantine for 14 days after Leonardo Basso tested positive for Covid19 today.

He is the only positive case within the team as of Saturday evening but because he trained with some other riders – specifically those in Italy for the national championships – those riders are now out of racing and into self-quarantine.

Basso went out on
a time trial recon with Filippo Ganna yesterday, with Ganna later winning the Italian title. And Basso also went on a training ride with Ganna, Salvatore Puccio and Gianni
Moscon this morning.

The four, who were never part of the team's Tour de France plans, were due to ride the Italian road race championships tomorrow, where Basso was to be the protected rider.

However, they are now out of the championships and will not race again for at least two weeks as they will be self-isolating.

Eddie Dunbar has been racing of late with the team in Italy, and rode on teams with Moscon and Puccio at Il Lombardia and Giro dell'Emilia. However, the positive test result, and quarantining of riders because of it, only relates to those riders at the Italian championships.

*Eddie Dunbar was racing with the team in Italy of late but only the riders, and some staff, who went to the Italian nationals are impacted by Basso's Covid19 positive test result*

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Team Ineos said Basso had passed tests in recent days but
was positive when tested today, though he is currently asymptomatic.

“Apart from a visit for treatment on his knee at his local medical centre eight days ago, Leonardo has been at home in Asolo with his girlfriend and training alone over the last 10 days,” Team Ineos said in a statement.

“He tested negative on Tuesday. He has remained at home and did not join the team at their hotel in recent days,” it added, explained he had also ridden with Ganna, Puccio and Moscon over the past two days.

“In line with protocols all four riders will now self isolate for 14 days. Four staff members will also self isolate as they are considered secondary contacts.

“Although
they have been in contact with the riders wearing masks, observing social distancing and other protocols the team
believes this to be a prudent precaution.

“We will
also support Leo with any contact tracing with any friends and family as
appropriate over the coming period.”