Members of RCS Sport, co-organizer of the UAE Tour, will be tested for coronavirus on Friday, raising the possibility that more Italian spring races may be in danger of cancellation.

Staff members of RCS Sport, which organizes the Milano-Sanremo, Tirreno-Adriatico, and Strade Bianche races, along with journalists, staff members of participating teams, and riders, were tested for the virus following the cancellation of the event due to the confirmed infection of two Italian staff members of participating teams.

On Thursday evening, a press release issued by the race organizers after stage 5, which was won by UAE Team Emirates' Tadey Pogacar, announced the cancellation of the final two stages and the confirmation of two confirmed viral infections. On Friday morning, it was announced that Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) had won the overall based on the results of stage 5.

"This decision was made to ensure the protection of all race participants. Safety is at the top of all priorities," the statement said.

"In the meantime, the Ministry of Health and Prevention has assured that all race participants, management staff, and organizers will be examined during ongoing routine inspections and that all necessary procedures, including quarantine measures, will be taken in coordination with all health and other relevant authorities in the country to ensure virus suppression and control its spread The UAE will be in charge of the outbreak.

Pending the results of virus tests on the UAE Tour team athletes, staff, journalists, and race organizers, all parties involved have been placed under house arrest at a hotel in Abu Dhabi.

Prior to the announcement of the two coronavirus cases at the Middle East World Tour event, RCS Sport stated via social media earlier this week: "Three spring bike races, Strade Bianche, Tirreno Adriatico, and Milan Sanremo Regarding the RCS Sport reiterates that it is committed to the smooth running of these events.

"To this end, RCS Sport is in constant contact with the relevant authorities and appreciates that, in cooperation with them, it takes all the most suitable measures to organize sporting events.

In Europe, Italy has been the hardest hit by the coronavirus, with the BBC reporting that the number of infected people jumped to 400 on Wednesday, and a British public service provider reported 17 deaths in the country on Thursday.

The regions of Lombardy and Veneto (both in northern Italy), including Milan, have been particularly severely affected due to two, possibly related, patient clusters.

Mauro Veni, head of RCS Sport, which also organizes the Giro d'Italia and toured the UAE earlier this week, told Cycling News about his concerns about Italy's spring races, particularly Milan to San Remo (March 21).

"Milan is one of the two most important places where we have recorded the most cases. But we follow all guidelines from the government and the Ministry of Public Health." As for Tirreno (March 11-17), the location is different. It is not the same as Venice or Milan, but due to the situation in Lombardy, it is the area around Milan that concerns me the most."

"The deciding factor will be the number of cases and whether the situation is under control. Geographical factors must also be taken into account. At the moment, there seems to be no problem in Tuscany, where the Strade Bianche will be held. At this point, I don't think there is a problem, but we will monitor it."

Last week, the UCI, the world governing body for cycling, postponed all races scheduled to be held in China in April and May, and will now hold the women's edition of the Strade Bianche on March 7, the same day as the men's race, and the March 22 race in Cittiglio, 70 km northwest of Milan, in The Trofeo Alfredo Binda women's race is also in danger of being cancelled.

Coronaviruses (also known as COVID-19) cause respiratory illness and can lead to pneumonia and other complications. To date, more than 80,000 people have been infected worldwide and nearly 3,000 have died.