Giro d'Italia: Sven Erik Bystrom abandons Giro with Covid, day after team announced he would ride on

Sven Erik Bystrom (Intermarche-Circus-Wanty) has withdrawn from the Giro d'Italia after testing positive for Covid-19. The 31-year-old reportedly tested positive for Covid a few days before the first rest day on Monday, but his team said he elected to ride on as he was asymptomatic. Ad Under the guidelines of cycling's governing body the UCI, riders do not have to withdraw from the race after a positive Covid-19 result.

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»However, Sven Erik Bystrom started to develop symptoms on the night of Monday to Tuesday. As a precautionary measure and in order to preserve his health, he will return home to rest." Bystrom told Eurosport Norway in an exclusive interview on Monday that he felt he was over the worst of the virus. «Now I feel better and I hope the worst is over,» the 31-year-old said.

«It has been a bit tiring the last few days. It has only been about getting through. It has been heavy.

»You have to take an assessment based on symptoms. If I had had a fever and felt bad it would have been something, but I have had mild symptoms and felt tired. «It is also normal on stages six, seven and eight of a three-week race.