(Cesena) Belgian Remco Evenepoel, big favorite for the Tour of Italy, left the race on Sunday evening after testing positive for COVID-19, announced his Soudal-Quick Step team.
“I’m really sorry to have to leave the race. As part of team protocol, I carried out a routine test which unfortunately came back positive,” said the world champion, who had just taken over the leader’s pink jersey in a statement, after having won the 9e stage.
Remco Evenepoel had won another time trial earlier on Sunday, this time by one second, to regain control of the Tour of Italy.
In contrast to the first time trial, however, Evenepoel triumphed by the slimmest of margins on stage nine – the longest of the race’s three individual time trials.
The Belgian got the better of Geraint Thomas following a 35 kilometer journey from Savignano Sul Rubicone to Cesena, near the Adriatic coast
This second was enough for Evenepoel to win the stage and reclaim the leader’s pink jersey. The world champion held a lead of 45 seconds over Thomas. Primoz Roglic, who is considered the fiercest contender for Evenepoel, is two seconds behind.
Tao Geoghegan Hart finished third in the time trial, two seconds slower than Evenepoel. Only eight seconds separated the top five on the occasion of a solid performance by the contenders for the general classification.
The cyclists will enjoy a first day of rest, Monday, before the 10e stage, which will take place on Tuesday. There will be two climbs on the 196 kilometer route through the Tuscan Apennines from Scandiano to Viareggio on the Mediterranean coast.
The race ends in Rome on May 28.