The Argentine test is not run for the second year because of COVID-19. A significant batch of international teams and cyclists had confirmed their performance.
For the second consecutive year, and as a result of the coronavirus, the Return to San Juan (Argentina), a test that marked the start of the season for WorldTour, Professional and Continental teams, with Ecuadorian cyclists in their ranks.
One exponential increase in coronavirus cases in the province of San Juan they set off alarms in the local authorities, who this monday they announced the cancellation of the competition, in its international character, with which aim for a test only with local teams.
“From the organization of the Vuelta a San Juan it is reported that in the face of the health situation in the world, the region, the country and the province referred to COVID-19, with the various statistics that are known from official entities and always thinking of putting the health of the population first; is that the suspension of the Vuelta a San Juan is decided in its international character”, Indicated the organization.
For its part, Jorge Chica, Secretary of Sports of San Juan, said this Monday that “visualizing the world situation, to which Argentina is no stranger and neither is San Juan, Due to the increase in cases, especially in the last week, we have decided to suspend our beloved Vuelta a San Juan until next year ”.
With nine WorldTour squads, the 39th edition of the Vuelta a San Juan (Argentina) was scheduled to take place between January 30 and February 6, with a record presence of top international teams, “An unprecedented event”, according to the organization.
Squares like Deceuninck-Quick Step, Ineos Grenadiers, UAE-Team Emirates o Israel Start-Up Nation they had their participation confirmed with names like Remco Evenepoel, defending champion (2019), Filippo Ganna, Elia Viviani, Chris Froome and the Olympic champion Richard Carapaz.
The organization also had national teams and professional teams, among these the Drone Hopper-Androni Toys, with Alexander Cepeda, current Ecuadorian road champion.
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Suspension of the test also postpones the debut of the Ecuadorian continental squad Movistar-Best PC, whose merger was announced in the last week of 2021, with the race in Argentina as the start of the season for cyclists such as Byron Guamá, Santiago Montenegro or Joel Fuertes.
With the Tour of San Juan, The local government also rejected the venue for the Summer Argentine soccer tournament, as well as the South American Skating, which “will be rescheduled for when the health situation does not allow them,” said the Secretary of Sports of San Juan.
“We will evaluate next week if a local edition of the Vuelta a San Juan can be held. As of today, in the massive events that take place in the province, we will carry out a health pass. We are worried about the situation, but we are equipped, ”said Chica. (D)
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