The pink jersey Remco Evenepoel is out of the Tour of Italy, after having tested positive for Covid-19, confirmed Soudal Quick-Step, the team of the Belgian cyclist who won the ninth stage of the Giro on Sunday.
“Remco Evenepoel is out of the Tour of Italy due to Covid-19. The Belgian was forced to abandon his first major Tour of the season after a routine test carried out before the first rest day came back positive for Covid-19.” , reads the statement published on the official website of the Belgian team.
The 23-year-old current long-distance world champion was leading the Tour of Italy with a 45-second advantage over the British Geraint Thomas (INEOS), who will now ‘ascend’ to first place overall. With the withdrawal of Evenepoel, the Portuguese João Almeida (UAE Emirates) rises to fourth position, behind the Slovenian Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) and the British Tao Geoghegan Hart (INEOS).
“I am heartbroken to have to announce that I will withdraw from the Giro due to Covid-19. […]. My experience here was really special and I was really looking forward to racing in the next two weeks.”
The 2022 Vuelta champion says goodbye to the Giro with the ‘pink jersey’ on and two stages won, today’s time trial, in which he beat Thomas by just a second, and the first stage.
Source: TSF
