Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) exited from the Giro d’Italia following a positive Covid test on Sunday evening. Evenepoel was in the pink leader’s jersey after Sunday’s stage 9 time trial, which he won by 1 second over Geraint Thomas, but will now be going home to Belgium on Monday to recover. Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) will now wear the race leader’s jersey.
Evenepoel and Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) were the two pre-race favorites, with many predicting that Evenepoel would have the advantage over Roglič due to the three time trials totaling 73.2 kilometers. This prediction proved true in the stage 1 time trial (19.6k) where Evenepoel finished first, 43 seconds ahead of Roglič. However, in the second time trial of 35 kilometers, Evenepoel was only able to finish 17 second ahead of Roglič.
The battle now will most likely be between Primož Roglič and the Ineos Grenadiers team of Thomas and Geoghegan Hart with Roglič having the advantage in the mountains. Team tactics will play a larger role for the Ineos Grenadiers who will need to isolate Roglič and limit their losses in the mountains.
Results
https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/giro-d-italia/2023/stage-9
