VIDEO: Remco Evenepoel leaves Soudal - Quick-Step's team hotel and the Giro d'Italia following covid diagnosis

Remco Evenepoel's departure from the Giro d'Italia is now complete. The Belgian who was leading the race has been sadly forced to abandon the battle for the Maglia Rosa after testing positive for covid.

The Soudal - Quick-Step leader has now been spotted leaving the team hotel wearing a mask as the team car taking him away is hounded by reporters and paparazzi looking to get a photo of the Belgian as he makes his departure.

Soudal - Quick-Step's press officer Phil Lowe said earlier today that "Nothing has changed. Remco Evenepoel has covid and is returning home. The other teammates stay on course," explained the Brit. "It was a standard test that we did yesterday before the rest day. We always do that, it's not that we tested because there were symptoms. There were none."

"We'll take some time to let this sink in and then we'll see when he can race again. It's a factor that we've known for several years now. We're taking it as it is," he continues before the team doctor adds "we think this is the best for everyone in our team and in this race."