Simon Yates drops out, positive for covid

BikeExchange leader Simon Yates, currently 5th overall, had to abandon the Vuelta due to a positive covid test. This was announced by his team before the 11th stage.

Winner of the Vuelta in 2018, Simon Yates (30) had just won a place overall after the individual time trial the day before between Elche and Alicante. According to his training, the runner presented symptoms during the night, such as a small fever and body aches, and carried out a test which proved positive this Wednesday morning. The BikeExchange training will carry out other tests with the riders and the team management to detect any other cases.

Shortly after, it was the Frenchman Pavel Sivakov who had to withdraw. The Ineos-Grenadiers rider was in 9th place, more than seven minutes behind the Remco Evenepoel red jersey.

Since the start of the Tour of Spain on August 19 in the Netherlands, at least 18 riders have tested positive for covid. The spread of the virus has accelerated within the peloton in recent days, with at least 16 cases detected since Friday.

Out of 182 runners at the start, 154 were to start on Wednesday from al Alhama de Murcia towards Almeria (191.2 km).

On Tuesday, four riders had to give up the individual time trial following a positive test: Briton Ethan Hayter (Ineos Grenadiers), Australian Harry Sweeny (Lotto-Soudal), Spaniard José Herrada (Cofidis) and Irishman Sam Bennett (Bora), winner of two stages and in the race for the green jersey.

/ATS