UAE Team Emirates rider Fernando Gaviria out of Giro d'Italia after testing positive for Covid-19 a second time

Colombian and a Team AG2R La Mondiale staff member had returned positive results from the latest round of testing

UAE Team Emirates rider Fernando Gaviria has tested positive for Covid-19 at the Giro d'Italia 2020 cycling race. AFP

UAE Team Emirates rider Fernando Gaviria has tested positive for Covid-19 at the Giro d'Italia and withdrawn from the race, his team has said..

Race organisers had said earlier that a Team Emirates rider and a Team AG2R La Mondiale staff member had returned positive results from the latest round of testing.

The Giro had been on the brink of being cancelled last week after five teams were hit by coronavirus cases, with the Mitchelton-Scott and Jumbo-Visma teams withdrawing before the 10th stage.

However, organisers said all riders and staff members tested negative later in the week before 492 tests on October 18-19 yielded the two positives.

"All other riders and staff returned a negative test, and will undergo further testing today," UAE Team Emirates said.

"Gaviria was immediately isolated following the test result and is feeling well and is completely asymptomatic. This is the second time the Colombian has tested positive for the virus, after also having it in March."

The Colombian had previously tested positive following the cancellation of the ill-fated UAE Tour in February.

Gaviria pulled out before Tuesday's 16th stage placed 126th out of 138 in the general classification, almost three and a half hours behind leader Joao Almeida.

Monday's two positives was down on the first round of testing, when the virus was detected in riders Steven Kruijswijk and Australian Michael Matthews along with six team personnel.