"I just hope he's riding behind me" - Remco Evenepoel shares concern as Geraint Thomas rides Tour de France Covid positive

Covid is still a very real concern amongst the peloton, with a number of big name riders such as Tom Pidcock, Juan Ayuso and Michael Morkov already forced out of the 2024 Tour de France. For some however, a positive test doesn't immediately mean an abandon from the race.

For Pidcock's INEOS Grenadiers' teammate, former Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas, a Covid positive has not been enough to cause an abandon. Despite the Welshman insisting he only has mild symptoms, this has raised some concern amongst the peloton, most notably from Remco Evenepoel, who himself is no stranger to the infection, having being forced to withdraw from the 2023 Giro d'Italia whilst leading the race. "I just hope he's riding behind me," Evenepoel said of Thomas pre-stage 15.

"With 'G' it just depends how the situation evolves. These things are like a head cold now per se but if it would progress to a point where he would be in danger, of course it doesn't make sense to start," INEOS Grenadiers sports director Zak Dempster explained to ITV Sport. "Obviously, 'G' is the guy we're talking about here, we don't really want to discuss rider's medical issues in the public, I don't think that's fair for them. But at the same time, you see in our decision making that we are protecting the riders if we feel it's not safe for them to do so and this team will continue to do that now and into the future."

For Evenepoel however, he's not sure it's such a wise idea to continue on having tested positive. "There are so many people at the start and finish. Corona then quickly enters the peloton," the Soudal - Quick-Step leader, who currently sits 3rd overall, explains. "I hope I don't have to go through that (a Covid enforced Grand Tour abandon ed.) again."