Corona chaos shakes up the Giro

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It’s a bittersweet Sunday for Remco Evenepoel (23). First, the Belgian celebrates the victory of the second day in the Giro d’Italia in a time trial and reclaims the Maglia Rosa. “Something special”, the enormous talent rejoices.

But disillusionment quickly follows: a Covid test is positive in the evening. “As part of the team protocol, I did a routine test, which unfortunately came back positive.” So it is clear: Evenepoel has to give up the Giro, he will go home on Monday.

At the same time, another big name was caught: the Colombian climbing specialist Rigoberto Uran (36) also had to give up due to a corona finding, with Filippo Ganna (26), Clement Russo (28) and Giovanni Aleotti (23) there were already three before more drivers were caught.

Father Evenepoel is angry

“I am very sorry that I have to leave the race,” says Evenepoel. Patrick Evenepoel, the leader’s father, speaks frankly on “Het Laatste Nieuws”: “I had a bad feeling and it turned out that it was good. We could see that he was not in his normal condition.” For the Belgian it is clear that the organizers of the Giro are partly to blame, the hygiene measures are virtually non-existent. “Everyone has to question themselves: the organisers, the riders, the media, the other supporters of the Giro caravan. Because it is clear that we are not rid of Covid.”

Even though the public doesn’t talk much about Corona anymore, Covid remains an issue for athletes. “For example, if you look at how the drivers had to come out of the Gran Sasso on Friday, I think there will undoubtedly be other cases,” says Evenepoel senior. “Personally, we didn’t want that to happen to Remco. But if the team doctor says stop, we have to stop.”

Thomas new in pink

With the race starting all over again, Britain’s Geraint Thomas will start stage 10 as leader on Tuesday after the rest day. Stefan Küng will be gone. The East Swiss gave up the Giro on Monday. After a few days of family vacation, he will be going to the altitude training camp on the Säntis from the middle of next week.

Küng’s departure is not surprising as his focus during the Tour of Italy has been on the two time trials on the first and eighth days. On Sunday, the number two in the world championship had to accept a disappointment in his parade discipline. He missed out on another big win in fourth place, just four seconds behind. (e.g./SDA)

Source : Blick