Volta ao Algarve defending champion João Rodrigues to skip race due to Covid-19 sequels

After having won the 2021 race in dramatic circumstances, W52 / FC Porto rider João Rodrigues won't be able to defend his title this year as he wasn't selected to the lineup after struggling with sequels from a Covid-19 infection.

The Volta ao Algarve will have it's start tomorrow in the roads of southern Portugal where the weather is pleasant at this time of year and it will feature a wide spectrum of big stars. Within the World Tour peloton there are plenty of local teams looking to impress on an international field, within those the most successful team in the Portuguese scene which is W52 / FC Porto, the winners of every Volta a Portugal since the team's creation back in 2013.

João Rodrigues was set to be one of the team leaders, alongside Amaro Antunes and José Neves, but there was a pebble in the Portuguese team's shoe as Rodrigues was infect with Covid-19 some weeks ago and is still struggling with sequels.

In an interview with Portuguese newspaper O Jogo, he said: "I tested positive for Covid-19 recently. I'm already recovering, but the symptoms I had got my fitness to go down. The team doctor, the DS and me thought it was best I wouldn't participate. The fitness isn't the best and I'm not fully recovered."

"For every reason and some more, because it's the Volta ao Algarve, on the roads I come to frequently, for having won last year, it's a bit frustrating that I can't participate. The Volta ao Algarve is very special to me, but the season is very long, there are other important races, the important thing is to recover and get back to competition," the Algarve native added.

With Amaro Antunes and José Neves now co-leading the team, the ambitions will still be high for the mountainous stages, as for the GC the likes of Remco Evenepoel, Brandon McNulty and Geraint Thomas should be the main favourites.