In the 24 hours since two teams left the Giro d'Italia amidst a string of COVID-19 positives, anxiety and fear have gripped the peloton.

On Tuesday, Steven Kruijswijk and Michael Matthews were announced as positive, along with four Mitchelton Scott staff members and one positive specimen each from Ineos Grenadiers and AG2R La Mondiale.

The string of positive results led to the withdrawal of Jumbo Visma, but the Dutch team told Cycling News that the safety of its riders and staff was its top priority. Mitchelton Scott, whose Simon Yates tested positive early in the race, also withdrew from the race, but Team Sunweb and other affected teams remained.

Jos van Emden, who left the race along with teammate Jumbo Visma, told a cycling podcast that race organizers RCS Sport and the UCI need to take greater responsibility to protect race officials.

RCS Sport is scrambling to contain the situation, conducting hundreds of inspections and trying to keep the race going as long as possible. However, the Giro d'Italia is under increasing pressure as COVID-19 cases are on the rise, not only in Italy but across Europe.

Before the 10th stage, shortly after news of the positive cases broke, race director Mauro Veni told RAI that the goal is to have the race end in Milan on October 25.

"We definitely want to hold the Giro d'Italia in Milan," Veni said.

"I would say at any cost, barring major problems or medical issues, we knew that holding the Giro in October would be a problem, and we are very happy to have the Giro in Milan.

CyclingNews spoke to one rider still in the race. He declined to give his name, but told us about the lack of protection and safety measures in controllable environments such as team hotels, and the fact that athletes are often forced to share dinner buffets with members of the race organization and the general public.

There are far more teams grouped together in the Giro d'Italia than in the Tour de France, and it was reported on several occasions that there is no segregation between riders who are supposed to be inside the bubble and those outside the bubble.

UCI emergency rules created specifically for the COVID-19 pandemic state that teams should stay in separate hotel wings and have "a reserved, independent cafeteria whenever possible." At the Giro d'Italia, many teams, including Bora-Hansgrohe, Ineos Grenadiers, and UAE Team Emirates, have separate food and canteen tracks.

"There is not much to say. Some riders just don't feel safe, not knowing when they will be caught or when the race will end," this rider told Cycling News before stage 11.

Riders also expressed concern about the lack of consistency within the race.

Jumbo Visma pulled his entire team once one rider tested positive, and Mitchelton Scott held on until more riders were infected. Team Sunweb stayed in the race despite Matthews' positive test.

On Tuesday, Team Sunweb, with Wilco Kelderman, defended its stance, with director Luke Roberts telling the media at the race site: "Basically, we just followed the rules we agreed with the UCI and the organization, the protocols we follow in stage races. That's basically our decision."

When asked if the team had considered following Jumbo Visma, Roberts added: "We have been following the UCI and the organization. Michael and the team will be tested on a regular basis. We just follow the protocol we agreed upon. "

According to peloton officials, teams that remain in the race after a positive test not only endanger the health of others, but also send the wrong message.

Vegni confirmed that all teams that tested positive for COVID-19 received a second rapid test on Monday. All race staff also underwent rapid testing.

"The rules seem to vary from team to team, and an explosion is expected on teams with infected staff.

"The problem is that by the time the test results come back it is too late. It is also not clear why some teams left and those with good GC riders remained. The question arises as to whether results are more important than health. For example, everyone wonders why Sunweb is still here when Mathews was in close contact with everyone on the team."

When asked if the Giro d'Italia should simply be cancelled at this point, the riders were unsure.

"I don't know," he told Cycling News. But you only have to look at the impact that one rider, Yates, has had so far. From now until the next rest day, the impact could be even greater. The scary part is that the riders don't want to put their health at risk because the tests won't be done until next Monday.

"There is no real bubble. We live with other teams and race organizers, but we don't have private rooms to eat in, and we share the cafeteria. We wear masks 24/7 and the only bubbles around us are the ones in our masks."

"We race like it's our last day. The riders are talking crazy and it's going to be really bad soon, but RCS. can't do anything about it except wear the damage we've done to the infected in our own race. We all just want to go home and be safe."