When a routine test destroys a season’s goal. Leader of the general classification after his victory in the time trial counting for the 9th stage on Sunday, Remco Evenepoel was forced to give up in the evening because of a positive test for Covid-19. A real thunderclap on the Giro, of which the Belgian world champion was the big favorite.
“Heavy Heart”
His forced renunciation deprives this 106th edition of the long-awaited duel with Primoz Roglic, who promised a lot by the arrival in Rome on May 28. The race was just about to really get started with the first mountain stages starting on Friday.
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce that I will have to leave the race. As part of team protocol, I performed a routine test which unfortunately came back positive, Evenepoel said in a statement. My experience here has been really special and I was looking forward to playing the last two weeks. I thank the management and the riders who have made so many sacrifices to prepare for this Giro. I will encourage them for the remaining two weeks. »
Outgoing winner of the Tour of Spain, the Belgian phenomenon was attacking the second phase of his plan which ultimately consists of winning the three Grand Tours, after a once again thunderous start to the season, marked in particular by his victory over Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
Geraint Thomas new leader
Everything had started well for him on this Giro where he flew over the inaugural time trial on May 6, before falling twice on Wednesday during the fifth stage and being slightly behind on Saturday by Roglic. But there was no indication that the Belgian was affected by the coronavirus. He had just confided Sunday evening after the stopwatch not feeling the best. “I hope not to get sick”, he had launched in a sentence which unfortunately became prophetic for him.
Evenepoel was 45 seconds ahead in the general classification over Geraint Thomas and 47 over Primoz Roglic, before the rest day on Monday. On Tuesday, when the race starts again without him, it is therefore the 36-year-old British veteran, winner of the Tour de France in 2018, who will wear the pink jersey. Roglic will be second at two seconds.