After testing optimistic for COVID-19 on Sunday night, Giro d’Italia race chief Remco Evenepoel began the lengthy journey residence by automotive from Italy to Belgium on Monday morning.
The world champion received Sunday’s stage 9 time trial – albeit by a smaller margin than anticipated – and later complained of a blocked nostril within the post-stage press convention. Three and a half hours later, a routine COVID-19 check – taken by all Soudal-QuickStep group members as a part of intra-team precautions – turned up a optimistic consequence for the virus.
With that, Evenepoel turned the seventh rider to depart the Giro with COVID-19, a choice taken by each group and rider to guard his well being and to stop additional unfold across the group and the peloton.
Evenepoel wore a masks on Monday morning to bid farewell to his teammates, whereas a group automotive was packed up along with his belongings forward of the lengthy drive residence.
Staff boss Patrick Lefevere commented (opens in new tab) that the group was taking “no dangers” with their rider, whereas group press officer Phil Lowe, chatting with assembled media on the group resort as Evenepoel left the race on Monday, additional defined the choice.
“We determined this for the rider, the group and the race – we instantly wished to comprise this so it will not unfold additional within the group or the Giro,” Lowe stated, in line with Het Nieuwsblad (opens in new tab).
“Everyone seems to be making an attempt to remain optimistic by way of all of it. It’s what it’s. It is one thing we have recognized about for 3 or 4 years, so now we have to cope with it and transfer on.
“May the Giro have completed extra? I am not going accountable anybody. That is life. He may have caught it wherever. You possibly can’t put 200km of limitations. It may have occurred on a climb or on the airport.”
The 23-year-old, who retook the maglia rosa after the time trial having earlier worn it for 3 days after his opening stage victory, was “calm” when the check consequence got here by way of, Lowe stated.
“He was fairly calm about it. Later within the night, he laughed once more. I feel he accepted it for what it’s. The ambiance was a bit depressed initially, however then we had a glass of wine, after which every thing may settle.
“Good query,” he added, responding to a query on when Evenepoel would possibly return to racing.
“We’ll take a while to let this sink in after which determine within the coming weeks.”
Heal up, champ 💪We and the #Giro are going to overlook you, however we’re positive extra alternatives to indicate your self will come in the end!Photograph: @BeelWout pic.twitter.com/Hm24r5tAcLMight 15, 2023
COVID-19 instances spiked within the peloton on the latest Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Tour de Romandie, whereas a number of riders additionally missed the beginning of the Giro following optimistic checks.
Now, the nightmare state of affairs for the Giro has come to go with the withdrawal of the race chief and total favorite, who follows riders together with Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) and Rigoberto Urán (EF Training-EasyPost) in leaving after a optimistic check.
Evenepoel is simply the third rider to depart the Giro within the maglia rosa – after Eddy Merckx in 1969 and Marco Pantani in 1999, each in way more controversial circumstances – however Belgian virologist Marc Van Ranst has stated that it was the proper choice.
“When the information got here within the night that he had examined optimistic, I believed it was the correct selection by the group to take him out of the race,” he informed Het Nieuwsblad.
“If we’re at 99% then we will go to work. However high athletes earn their residing with the utmost 1% of their talents. If they are not high notch, then they will not end on the rostrum. You possibly can’t win the Giro d’Italia with COVID-19.
“He would possibly be capable to survive the flatter stage after the remaining day on his class, however the hardest phases are nonetheless to come back. And you actually aren’t sick for just one or two days. His physique is his most valuable possession, so he cannot afford to take dangers with it.”
