“Evenepoel Withdraws from Giro d’Italia Due to Positive COVID-19 Test Result”

“I am very sorry to have to leave the race. As part of the team rules, I underwent a routine test, which unfortunately came out positive,” Evenepoel said in a statement from his Soudal-Quick Step team.

Before the start of the Giro, the twenty-three-year-old Evenepoel was considered, together with the Slovenian Primož Roglič, as the biggest favorite for the overall victory, and he confirmed this role from the first stage. In the opening time trial last Saturday, he outclassed the competition and wore the pink jersey, which he more or less left to Norwegian Tobias Leknessund on Tuesday. With Sunday’s further triumph in the time trial, Evenepoel returned to the top of the standings, but he will not appear at the start of Tuesday’s tenth stage after a free Monday.

After his involuntary resignation, the head of the standings is even. New leader Thomas is just two seconds ahead of Roglic, with Thomas’ compatriot and Ineos Grenadiers team-mate Tao Geoghegan Hart third a further three seconds back. Evenepoel leaves the 106th edition of the Giro due to the coronavirus as the fifth participant. Among other things, the Italian time trialist Filippo Ganna from Ineos had to withdraw on Saturday.

Of the three Czech participants of the season’s opening Grand Tour, Josef Černý was the most time trial specialist today. He lost almost five minutes to his team leader in 111th position.