The Belgian Remco Evenepoel, leader in the general classification and big favorite of the Tour of Italy, announced his abandonment of the race after a positive test for Covid-19, this Sunday, May 14. ” It is with a heavy heart that I announce that I will have to leave the race. As part of team protocol, I performed a routine test which unfortunately came back positive he said in a statement from his Soudal-Quick Step team. Winner of the 9th stage of the Giro a few hours earlier, the start of the 23-year-old rider deprived this 106th edition of the highly anticipated duel with the Slovenian Primož Roglič, on whom he had a 47-second lead before the 10th stage which will start on the 16th. may. Remco Evenepoel had already retired during his previous participation in the Giro in 2021.