Coronavirus cases confirmed on UAE Tour – statement in full | Sticky Bottle

Sam Bennett, above, and Eddie Dunbar are, like everyone on the race, being tested for the coronavirus. So far two staff members on an Italian team riding UAE Tour have tested positive for the virus, which has forced the cancellation of the remaining two stages of the event

The authorities in the United Arab Emirates have confirmed two people within an Italian team have tested positive for the coronavirus at UAE Tour.

Earlier this evening it was announced the race had been stopped; tomorrow’s and Saturday’s stages cancelled.

It means the general classification win will be awarded to Adam Yates, the Mitchelton Scott rider who won stage 3 and retained his lead on Wednesday’s and Thursday’s stages.

However, the race organisers, UCI and the riders and team
staff now have bigger concerns than the results from the event or the fact the
final two stages are cancelled.

The Abu Dhabi Sports Council has issued a statement confirming two positive tests on the race and the race itself specified those two cases were among staff at an Italian team.

All of the staff, riders and race officials on the race were being tested tonight for the virus, with photos emerging of ambulances outside team hotels.

The riders and staff have been told to stay in their hotels to allow the testing, on several hundred people, to be carried out.

Adam Yates was at his best at the UAE Tour; taking the race lead after winning stage 3 and attacking repeatedly on the second climbers' stage on Thursday. The coronavirus may have shortened the race by two stages, but he already had it won convincingly

Because everyone on pro races spends so much time in each others company and in very close proximity, there will be concern at the possible rate of spread.

However, for now two cases are confirmed and it will
likely take at least 24-48 hours before any spread of the virus within the race
becomes clear.

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The statement issued about the two positive tests reads
as follows:

“Abu Dhabi Sports Council decided to cancel the remaining
stages of the Emirates Tour race after discovering two cases infected with
coronavirus, one of the members of the teams of Italian nationality.

“The council announced that its decision comes to preserve
the safety and health of all participants from the teams and players.

“In the meantime, the Ministry of Health and Community
Protection announced that all participants in the race, including
administrators and organisers, will be subject to the necessary medical
examinations within the active investigation program, where all preventive
measures have been taken to prevent the transmission of infection.

“Specialised examination procedures [are in place] to ensure that they are free of illness and to ensure community safety.”

UAE Tour, which is organised by Italian sports promoters
RCS Sport, also released a statement which stated the two cases were two team
staff members.

“The Higher Organising Committee has cancelled the
remaining stages of the 2020 UAE Tour after two Italian staff members of one of
the teams participating in the UAE Tour had tested positive for the novel
coronavirus, known as COVID-19,” it said.

"The decision has been taken to ensure protection of
all the Race's participants. Safety comes at the top of all priorities."

There have been 19 cases of coronavirus in UAE, with six confirmed today, which appear to include the two tests on the race.

There are real fears now the coronavirus and the measures being put in place to stop its spread – such as limiting travel and public gatherings – will hit pro cycling hard.