Remco Evenepoel withdraws from Giro d'Italia because of Covid-19

Belgian Remco Evenepoel has withdrawn from the Giro d'Italia after testing positive for Covid-19, his team Soudal Quick-Step announced on Sunday evening. The world champion had regained the leading pink jersey with a time trial victory in the afternoon.

"It's with a heavy heart that I have to announce that I will be leaving the Giro d'Italia due to Covid-19 after taking a routine test, which unfortunately was positive," Evenepoel said in a statement on Twitter.

"My experience here has been really special and I was looking forward to competing over the next two weeks. I can't thank enough the staff and the riders who sacrificed so much in preparation for the Giro. Still very proud to leave with two stage wins and four pink jerseys," he said.

Evenepoel is the sixth rider to withdraw from the race after testing positive for Covid-19, following Italians Filippo Ganna (INEOS Grenadiers), Nicola Conci (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Giovanni Aleotti (BORA - hansgrohe), Frenchman Clément Russo (Arkéa-Samsic) and Colombian Rigobert Uran.

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