Giro d’Italia favorite Remco Evenepoel pulls out of race after optimistic COVID check
Giro d’Italia chief and favorite Remco Evenepoel needed to withdraw from the race on Sunday after testing optimistic for coronavirus.
Key factors:
- Remco Evenepoel has regained the pink jersey earlier than his optimistic COVID check pressured him to withdraw from the race
- The 23-year-old Belgian rider was the favorite to win the general title after main till the top of the fourth stage
- The choice to withdraw was based mostly round group guidelines, fairly than guidelines for the occasion
Evenepoel had gained the day’s particular person time trial to reclaim the chief’s pink jersey.
However his Soudal Fast-Step group later introduced that the world champion had returned a optimistic check for COVID-19 after the top of Sunday’s ninth stage.
“I’m actually sorry to be leaving the race,” Evenepoel stated.
“As a part of the group’s protocol, I took a routine check, which sadly was optimistic.
“My expertise right here has been actually particular and I used to be wanting ahead to competing over the following two weeks. I can not thank sufficient the employees and the riders who sacrificed a lot in preparation for the Giro. I shall be cheering them on over the following two weeks.”
The remainder of the group and employees have been examined and have been all detrimental.
Evenepoel had additionally gained the opening time trial in dominant style and had led the Giro till the top of the fourth stage.
The 23-year-old Belgian had a 45-second lead over new race chief Geraint Thomas, who rides for Ineos Grenadiers. Primož Roglič, who was thought of Evenepoel’s strongest challenger, was two seconds additional again.
Evenepoel, who gained the Spanish Vuelta final 12 months, has had depressing luck in Italy.
He crashed out of the 2021 Giro, the one time he has competed within the Italian Grand Tour. That was Evenepoel’s first race again after a critical accident the earlier 12 months that left him with a damaged pelvis after a crash despatched him flying off the facet of a bridge.
That additionally occurred in Italy, within the Tour of Lombardy.
AP
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