Richard Carapaz tests positive for Covid-19 and abandons Tour de la Provence

Breaking update from the Tour de la Provence as news emerged from the INEOS Grenadiers bubble, less positive news in comparison to their last few days.

Velonews editor who is on the ground has reported this morning that Equatorian Richard Carapaz has tested positive for Covid-19 and will no start today's stage at the Tour de la Provence. Yesterday's stage winner Elia Viviani is currently in an uncertain position as he is deemed a close contact, and may not take to the start aswell.

After making it into the decisive split yesterday, INEOS did a brilliant team work to control the stage and net the win with the Italian sprinter. Carapaz, alongside Filippo Ganna and Luke Rowe all worked to reel in the attacks that came towards the end, with Carapaz shedding some seconds in the end of the stage, but still very much within the overall fight. After a crash in the Etoile de Bessèges, the season has not started well for the climber, and things may turn even worst for the team in the coming days.