Illustrious forfeit that of Remco Evenepoel who had to leave the Giro d'Italia 2023. The pink jersey tested positive for Covid with an antigenic swab carried out by his team, the Soudal Quick-Step. With an official statement the team gave news of the immediate abandonment of the rider.
Soudal Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team
Remco Evenepoel withdraws due to Covid
The UCI (International Cycling Union) and RCS, the organizing company of the Giro, have not issued anti-covid directives. Antigen tests on runners are carried out in total autonomy by the teams, to protect the health and physical integrity of the riders. Even if Covid has been downgraded, however, for athletes there is always a health risk, mainly due to respiratory and sometimes cardiac problems in those who are infected. Often the consequences can affect the entire season of an athlete and a team. Teams can therefore decide independently how to behave in case of positivity
There is no obligation to notify the organization of the Giro nor to the UCI. In fact, in this first part of the Giro, there have been cases of Covid that have not been communicated and for which, the medical staff of the teams have decided not to take measures. So it was La Soudal-QuickStep who assessed the risky situation and consequently decided to preserve the physical integrity of the pink jersey, Evenepoel out.