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Giro d’Italia chief and favorite Remco Evenepoel needed to withdraw from the race on Sunday after testing constructive for coronavirus.
Key factors:
- Remco Evenepoel has regained the pink jersey earlier than his constructive COVID check compelled him to withdraw from the race
- The 23-year-old Belgian rider was the favorite to win the general title after main till the tip of the fourth stage
- The choice to withdraw was primarily based round group guidelines, reasonably than guidelines for the occasion
Evenepoel had received 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 constructive check for COVID-19 after the tip 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 constructive.
“My expertise right here has been actually particular and I used to be trying ahead to competing over the subsequent two weeks. I am unable to thank sufficient the employees and the riders who sacrificed a lot in preparation for the Giro. I will probably be cheering them on over the subsequent two weeks.”
The remainder of the group and employees had been examined and had been all destructive.
Evenepoel had additionally received the opening time trial in dominant trend and had led the Giro till the tip 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 received the Spanish Vuelta final yr, 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 severe accident the earlier yr that left him with a damaged pelvis after a crash despatched him flying off the aspect of a bridge.
That additionally occurred in Italy, within the Tour of Lombardy.
AP
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