"I hope everyone will respect this and his privacy" - Patrick Lefevere reacts to Remco Evenepoel's Covid-19 shock

Remco Evenepoel's abandon from the Giro d'Italia came as a shock and an early rest-day fireworks. The race is to be completely changed now in his absence, and Patrick Lefevere who has been following the team throughout Italy has commented already.

"That explains everything. Good recovery. I hope everyone will respect this and his privacy. He will come back stronger," Lefevere said in a post shared on Twitter. The manager of Soudal - Quick-Step was in Italy with the team, frequently appearing on TV shots, but is possibly returning home after this rough night as the team now finds itself without a north.

After months of preparation Evenepoel is forced to abandon the race whilst in pink because of a sudden positive. Hints may have been given as he struggled yesterday to follow Primoz Roglic in the finale, but even though he hasn't taken as much time as expected in today's time-trial he still took the victory.