Remco Evenepoel’s return to the Giro d’Italia unfolded overnight as a turning point and a high-stakes race for triumph. The event carried a mood of uncertainty and quiet sadness, a sense of the unknown hovering over what was to come. Primo Roglic shed the burden of the Flemish rival, emerging as the main challenger for victory in Rome. The race drew heavy media attention following Evenepoel’s withdrawal and the shock of a favored rider stepping away from contention. This moment, recounted through Evenepoel’s time trial data on Strava, highlighted the fragile nature of a sport where a single day can redefine a podium ahead of schedule.
Relating to
- Evenepoel abandoned the Giro due to health concerns and faced isolation after testing positive
In a swift two days, Geraint Thomas and Tao Geoghegan Hart, two veterans of the peloton, appeared revitalized along with their Ineos teammates. The plan hung in the air on Tuesday morning: would the rider who earned the pink jersey continue to wear it, or would allegiance to his team dictate a different color on his back? Meanwhile, CAT had been absent from racing for two seasons after a breakthrough in 2020, reappearing now without prior assumptions. The Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport noted that public enthusiasm would surge if the rider who had led early were named a final victor contender.
almost 37 years old
Thomas reached his 37th birthday on the penultimate Giro stage, the same day as the last time trial in 2018. He had previously finished third in Paris, yet did not engage in the battle for the overall yellow jersey with Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar. The squad remained strong, though it had also seen some losses. Filippo Ganna withdrew after a positive Covid test, complicating the team’s plans.
The virus has undeniably posed a risk to the leading contenders, namely Thomas, Roglic, and Geoghegan Hart, in that order on the general classification. There were no UCI mandates or Giro rules forcing the removal of an infected rider. Cycling culture and the sport’s broader context add to the complexity, with ongoing questions about how the disease is managed within the peloton and whether teams like Soudal acted cautiously in light of developing stages and health checks. The question lingered: would Evenepoel withdraw to observe the evolving situation, or would the race move forward against the backdrop of Crans-MMontana’s Friday schedule?
Roglic and Sepp Kuss
Roglic faced ongoing pressure, with Thomas and Geoghegan Hart tracking closely and leveraging every lead. A tight margin separated the riders, and strategic decisions around bonuses could shift the pink jersey at key moments. Roglic benefited from the support of Sepp Kuss, the American climber who has repeatedly proven crucial in the mountains, even when the general classification gap was substantial.
Even as the Return resumed on Tuesday, the race stretched over two weeks with a historic potential in sight: three riders could be within a few seconds for the pink jersey. The Ineos team, coordinating between Thomas and Geoghegan Hart, sought to balance aggressive attacks with calculated defense against Roglic. The overarching tactic aimed at neutralizing the shared threat while preserving individual chances for a final breakthrough, much like a coordinated effort to overcome a formidable foe from the front of the field.
Remco Evenepoel’s sudden absence left the Giro’s narrative unsettled, creating a testing ground for rivals and spectators alike, as they weighed the shifting dynamics and the evolving form of the remaining contenders. The competition moved forward with renewed questions about form, strategy, and endurance as the stages unfolded.
Roglic and Sepp Kuss
Roglic’s rivals could not relax. The pressure stayed high as Thomas and Geoghegan Hart pressed from behind. A two-second deficit and a three-second gap to their English counterpart meant every victory bonus would count toward the overall standings. Kuss remained a vital asset for Roglic, providing mountain support when the climb demanded decisive, timely power. The team’s plan leaned on calculated aggression and the opportunistic use of stage results to shift the overall balance in the race’s final phases.
With Return continuing as a two-week event, the Giro had already delivered a rare moment where three riders could be separated by only a few seconds in pursuit of the pink jersey. The peloton watched and waited as tactics unfolded, from the Mount Cervino approach to the flatter but decisive finishes that could redefine the race’s outcome. This is professional racing, where a single day can rewrite a season and forecasts must adapt on the go, in a continuous loop of risk and reward.