Alberto Contador exclusive: Remco Evenepoel 'must be broken' at Giro d’Italia withdrawal after positive Covid-19 test

Alberto Contador believes Remco Evenepoel «must be broken» after being ruled of the Giro d’Italia following a positive Covid-19 test. The Soudal-Quick Step rider, having triumphed in the individual time trial on Stage 9, secured a 45-second lead in the general classification. Ad However, just hours later his team announced that he would no longer participate in the race due to a positive test result.

Giro d'ItaliaHow to watch Stage 10 as Thomas takes over lead after Evenepoel withdrawalAN HOUR AGO «I can imagine how Remco must have felt. He must be broken because he has worked really hard to be in optimal form for this Giro d’Italia,» said Eurosport expert Contador. «We saw how he kicked things off perfectly with the initial time trial where he won with authority.

He has been doing well over the past few days so being forced to leave the race due to Covid is complicated. 'It’s true that it’s a decision that came from his team and himself. The UCI [cycling's governing body] doesn’t force you to do anything, but it’s a tough thing to deal with.

»If you have a positive rider and you keep them in the race to see how they get on, they have a rest day and then maybe a few days that won’t be too tough to see if he could overcome the situation. «But it is a decision that belongs to the team, to Remco, and the reality is that now Remco is not in the race, and a new Giro begins.» After his triumphant 2022 Vuelta a Espana win, Evenepoel was aiming to achieve another victory in a Grand Tour. In the Giro, he emerged victorious in two stages: the individual time trials on Stage 1 and Stage 9.