Thomas To Wear Pink Jersey On Stage 10 As Evenepoel Out Of Giro, RCS Confirms
Giro d’Italia race organiser RCS Sport has confirmed to Eurosport that Geraint Thomas will wear the pink jersey on Stage 10, and that Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) could have continued despite testing positive for coronavirus, according to the rules, but that the decision for him to withdraw was taken by the team doctor following his positive test after Sunday’s Stage 9.
Britain’s Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) will wear the pink jersey on Stage 10 of the Giro d’Italia on Tuesday, race organiser RCS Sport has confirmed to Eurosport, after Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) had to withdraw from the race after testing positive for Covid-19.
Thomas finished up 45 seconds adrift of the precocious Belgian on GC after the individual time trial on Sunday, after missing out on the stage itself by one second, but the Welshman will now sport the leader’s jersey after Evenepoel was ruled out of the race following a positive Covid-19 test.
The 23-year-old won the individual time trial to reclaim the lead in the general classification, but just an hour later, he had to withdraw after his test result was confirmed. It has seen Thomas elevated to the status of overall leader.
RCS Sport has confirmed to Eurosport that Thomas will wear the pink jersey while Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) will assume the lead in the young rider standings and wear the white jersey.
Additionally, the race organiser communicated that Evenepoel could have continued, according to the rules, but that the decision was taken by the team doctor to withdraw him from the race.
“The Belgian was forced to say goodbye to the first Grand Tour of the season after a routine test taken ahead of the first rest day came back positive to Covid-19,” a statement from Soudal Quick-Step read.
World Champion and #Giro maglia rosa @EvenepoelRemco is out of the race after testing positive to Covid-19. pic.twitter.com/FK0B1cnvTT
— Soudal Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team (@soudalquickstep) May 14, 2023
Evenepoel added: “I am really sorry to be leaving the race. As part of the team’s protocol, I took a routine test, which unfortunately was positive.
“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. I will be cheering them on over the next two weeks.”
Soudal Quick-Step manager Patrick Lefevere defended the decision as he said on Twitter: “You never know what’s going on under the skin [internally]. This is not a 9-5 job. Zero risk.”
Heal up, champ 💪
— Soudal Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team (@soudalquickstep) May 15, 2023
We and the #Giro are going to miss you, but we’re sure more opportunities to show yourself will come sooner or later!
Photo: @BeelWout pic.twitter.com/Hm24r5tAcL
Thomas will hold a two-second advantage over Jumbo-Visma’s Primoz Roglic, while his team-mate, Tao Geoghegan Hart, is five seconds behind him.
Geoghegan Hart’s solitary Grand Tour triumph came at the Giro back in 2020 when he stormed to glory as the stand-in Ineos leader after Thomas had to withdraw after sustaining an injury to his pelvis from a fall.
