A routine test done yesterday the evening, 14 May, from the Soudal Quick Step to riders and staff changed the history of the 2023 Giro d'Italia. The only positive result was Remco Evenepoel who, by his will, decided to leave the race.

From this year on, it is the task of the teams to carry out checks and take the necessary measures. Furthermore, the current UCI regulation provides for the obligation to communicate a case of positivity to Covid, with the " decision to isolate the subject and withdraw him from the race taken by the doctor of the team concerned, by the race doctor and by the medical director of the UCI".

"It is with a heavy heart that I announce that I have to leave the Giro after testing positive for Covid-19 ," wrote the world champion in a statement on social media. “My experience here was very special and I was looking forward to continuing the battle over the next couple of weeks . I can't thank the staff enough. Even my team mates, who have sacrificed so much in preparation for this Giro . I am still very proud because I can leave the Giro with two stage wins and four pink jerseys ».

Evenepoel had already understood a few hours before the tampon that his conditions were not optimal: in the press conference he had spoken of his cold while in a video of a Flemish television channel Remco can be heard saying to his wife after the victory in the Cesena time trial: " Yes, I think I caught the flu ."

We will continue to discuss for a long time why we didn't prefer to wait for Tuesday morning, after the rest day, to check his health conditions and try to start again after the rest day.

The truth is that the Giro loses the pink jersey and the most awaited protagonist of the next two weeks.

Photo Sprint Cycling

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DISGRACE ON THE LAP, EVENEPOEL RETIRES AFTER TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID - YouTube