Geraint Thomas takes lead in Giro d'Italy as Remco Evenepoel tests positive for Covid

Geraint Thomas on his way to second place in the ninth stage of the individual time trial at the Giro d'Italia. Photo: Reuters/Jennifer Lorenzini.

Geraint Thomas inherited the lead at the Giro d'Italia under extremely unfortunate circumstances on Sunday night after world champion and race leader Remco Evenepoel tested positive for Covid in a routine test ahead of Monday's first day of rest.

Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) won Sunday's Stage 9 35K time trial in dramatic fashion, just one second off Thomas to reclaim the pink jersey he took on Stage 1 and create what many had hoped for. there will be an exciting battle for the top prize over the next two weeks.

However, just a few hours after his victory, the Evenepol team released a statement announcing that the Belgian was the latest victim of Covid, which is tearing up the peloton, and was already holding big players like Filippo Ganna of Ineos Grenadiers and EF Education. — Rigoberto Ouran of Easypost.

“I am very sorry to leave the race,” Evenepul said in a statement. “According to the protocol of the team, I took the usual test, which, unfortunately, turned out to be positive. My experience here was really special and I was looking forward to the start of the competition over the next two weeks.

“I cannot thank the staff and riders who sacrificed so much in preparation for the Giro. I will support them for the next two weeks.”

Remko Evenepoel celebrates his victory on the podium after the ninth stage of the time trial, but his joy is soon cut short. Photo: Shutterstock/Luca Zennaro

Evenepol's withdrawal robs neutrals of the chance to see the 23-year-old — last year's Vuelta a España champion — attempt to take on not only 2018 Tour de France champion Thomas, but three-time Vuelta winner Primoz Roglic (Jambo-Visma) and 2020 Giro winner Tao Geoghegan Hart, all of whom lay within a minute of him.

However, this means that British fans now have two riders in the top three at the GC. , Thomas is now two seconds ahead of Roglic and Geoghegan Hart is still three seconds behind. It should still be an exciting battle, assuming they all stay Covid-free.

Thomas, speaking after his agonizing second place in Sunday's time trial, said he hoped to continue to «prove that people wrong.»< /p>

«This is the story of my career, proving that people are wrong, everyone always doubts me, and it's nice that I'm getting better,» said the Welshman. “We are all doing well and everyone is driving well. There are still two weeks left, but as a team we are in a strong position and hopefully we can use that strength and try to do something.» Meanwhile, Britain's Tom Pidcock (Ineos) overcame a fall on lap five to win the elite men's cross-country race at the Nove Mesto World Cup in the Czech Republic.