Published February 5, 2022 05:05AM
Jumbo-Visma, DSM both out of Valenciana due to COVID cases
Two teams exit the early season Spanish race just days after BikeExchange-Jayco also pulled out for COVID outbreak.
Jumbo Visma, shown here in the 2020 Critérium du Dauphiné, pulled it team out of Valenciana following a COVID outbreak. (Photo: James Startt)
Jumbo-Visma and Team DSM both pulled their entire teams out of the Volta a Comunitat Valenciana due to COVID-19 outbreaks.
Two riders on the Jumbo-Visma’s roster popped positive for COVID controls, and the Dutch team exited the early season Spanish race ahead of Saturday’s fourth stage. DSM also left the action after three team members produced positive COVID tests Saturday.
“After two positive corona tests, Team Jumbo-Visma will no longer be at the start of the Tour of Valencia today,” a team statement read. “Since it cannot be ruled out that more people will test positive, the decision [to leave] has been taken to protect others, inside and outside the team.”
Jumbo-Visma also had to shut down its pre-season camp last month due to coronavirus infiltrating the team bubble.
Team DSM was the next victim as three team members got pinged.
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“The affected team members developed mild complaints during the morning and are now in quarantine, and the team will continue to follow the advice and rules from the local government,” read a statement from DSM.
The news comes just days after BikeExchange-Jayco also pulled out of the Spanish race for COVID cases.
The omicron wave continues to sweep across Europe as the 2022 racing season clicks into gear this month.