December 17/21 9:13 am - National Team Project Cancels Project Due to COVID Positives

Posted by Editor on 12/17/21
 

A national team track project has become the latest sporting project to be impacted by the ongoing pandemic, with a number of riders and staff recording positive test results while in Andia, Portugal, for a C1 event. Some riders and team staff are quarantining in Portugal while Cycling Canada works with authorities to return them to Canada.

According to a statement from Cycling Canada, the initial positives came through pre-event antigen tests conduced on December 9th. Those team members went into isolation until further testing (PCR) could be done for all team members to confirm initial antigen testing results. Some of those tests returned inconclusive results and required additional testing, which ultimately returned negative results for the entire team.

This project consists primarily of development athletes, with Olympic medal winning riders Kelsey Mitchell and Lauriane Genest having already returned to Canada, as has Maggie Coles-Lyster. However, another Olympian on the project - track sprinter Nick Wammes - posted on his social media three days ago that he has been sick and unable to race:

"Pretty disappointed to not be able to line up for racing this weekend in Portugal. Got pretty sick and have spent the last 6 days in bed, the last place I'd want to be when in beautiful sunny Portugal. Sh*t happens and it is what it is. Headed home a little early to get healthy and ready for a big season ahead."

There is no indication that Wammes tested positive for COVID, since he appears to have been allowed to return back to Canada.

The final PCR tests took place on Tuesday (December 14th), as part of the requirements to travel to the next race [in Grenchen, Switzerland]. Cycling Canada received the results 24 hours later, and four staff members and two athletes were found to be positive. The remainder of the team tested negative.

The Cycling Canada statement continues:  Based on this, we cancelled the national team project planned for Grenchen, Switzerland, on December 17-18, and sent those who had tested negative home while those who tested positive remained in Portugal to begin their two weeks in isolation. They will be able to return home once cleared by health authorities.

Of those who returned home, three subsequently tested positive and are in self-isolation. All others are conducting follow-up tests as a precaution.

Most of the cases are asymptomatic; some have developed mild symptoms which have since receded. Cycling Canada medical staff is in continual communication with all those affected. All health authorities and close contacts have been informed of the situation and Cycling Canada continues to support the whole team.

Cycling Canada will not be making any further comments regarding this matter, and is not naming the individuals who tested positive to protect their privacy.