Giro d'Italia: What does Evenepoel's withdrawal mean for the rest of the Giro?

"It is with a heavy heart that I have to announce that I have to leave the Giro d'Italia due to a positive corona test," wrote Remco Evenepoel on Sunday evening, shortly after his team had informed him of the Belgian's retirement.

Giro d'Italia 2023: Corona decimates the peloton

Corona is omnipresent at the Giro d'Italia 2023. There have already been six cases during this year's Tour of Italy: Clement Russo (Arkea-Samsic), Nicola Conci (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Giovanni Aleotti (Bora-Hansgrohe), Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers), Rigoberto Uran (EF Education EasyPost) and now Evenepoel.

In addition, there were further positive tests before the start. Jumbo-Visma, Primoz Roglic's team, was particularly hard hit. The virus was first detected in Robert Gesink and time trial world champion Tobias Foss, then in Jos van Emden, who was nominated later. The Ineos Grenadiers team has also been weakened by Ganna's withdrawal due to the coronavirus. Following Evenepoel's withdrawal, Geraint Thomas, a rider from the British team, has taken the pink jersey and has a good chance of winning the Giro d'Italia after the Tour de France 2018. But what tactics will he use?

Ineos Grenadiers: wait and see or attack?

On paper, Ineos Grenadiers has the best starting position among the classification teams at the Giro d'Italia 2023: No fewer than five Ineos riders are in the top 15 overall: Laurens De Plus (13th/+2:36), Thymen Arensman (12th/+2:32), Pavel Sivakov (9th/+2:15) and the two captains Tao Geoghegan Hart (3rd/+0:05) and Thomas as overall leader. A large phalanx that was designed to take turns attacking Evenepoel in the mountains. Now, with Thomas, they are suddenly where they want to be at the end of the 2023 Giro d'Italia: at the top of the overall standings. However, the lead over Roglic is only two seconds. So what to do? Manage or switch to attack mode? The latter would be the obvious choice to play it safe and distance themselves even further from the competition.

Giro d'Italia 2023: The current standings in the overall standings

1. Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) 34:34:27
2. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) +0:02
3. Tao Geoghegan Hart (Ineos Grenadiers) +0:05
4. Joao Ameida (UAE Team Emirates) +0:22
5. Andreas Leknessund (Team DSM) +0:22
6. Aleksandr Vlasov (Bora-Hansgrohe) +1:03
7. Damiano Caruso (Bahrain-Victorious) +1:28
8. Lennard Kämna (Bora-Hansgrohe) +1:52
9. Pavel Sivakov (Ineos Grenadiers) +2:15
10. Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates) +2:24

>> The results of the stages at a glance

Geraint Thomas commented on his expectations for the rest day. "I'm wearing pink, but Roglic is very strong. The race is completely open. We have several cards to play with. Tao and I are equally strong. If he proves that he is stronger, I will certainly work for him," said the Tour de France winner.

Back to Sky tactics?

And what will change with the departure of Evenepoel? Thomas also commented on this. "Just yesterday I thought that I would have to make up minutes in the third week. I didn't expect to be in front on the first rest day. We don't have to chase now, but we don't plan to ride any differently either."

However, the British team's tactics are likely to be slightly different than originally planned for this Giro d'Italia. Instead of taking it in turns to attack with several riders, they will now have to carry the burden of the race with the pink jersey. It could be similar to the years when the current Ineos Grenadiers team dominated the Tour de France under the name Sky. With riders such as Chris Froome, Bradley Wiggins and Geraint Thomas, the team pushed the competition to the limit with a fast pace on the climbs before the captain himself took over and completed the job.

Roglic with advantage over Ineos riders

Ineos' main rival is likely to be Primoz Roglic. Before the Giro d'Italia 2023, there were many indications of a duel between Remco Evenepoel and Roglic. The two exceptional riders were considered THE top favourites. Now that Evenepoel is no longer in the race, Roglic should be the man everyone is looking at. However, the course of the Giro so far raises doubts. In the two time trials, the Slovenian has fallen short of expectations and on Sunday was even slower than the two Ineos captains Geraint Thomas and Geoghegan Hart. In addition, the Jumbo-Visma team is not at the same level as Ineos Grenadiers in the mountains.

In Roglic's favour is that he is more explosive than the two Ineos bosses and could therefore secure bonus seconds again and again when small groups arrive. Especially as he has already set the tone - as in his attack on the way to Fossombrone last Saturday.

Bora-Hansgrohe: How are Kämna and Vlasov performing?

The two Bora-Hansgrohe pros Aleksandr Vlasov (+1:03) and Lennard Kämna (+1:52) are in sixth and eighth place after Evenepoel's withdrawal and are still within striking distance of the top. Basically, the Raubling-based racing team's tactics are unlikely to change for the time being following Evenepoel's withdrawal from the Giro d'Italia 2023. "For me, it's about not losing any more time. We'll see how things look in the overall classification in the final week," said Kämna in a media round on the rest day.

While the overall classification is new territory for the German, his team-mate Vlasov already has more experience there and proved with fifth place in the last Tour de France that he can finish well up front. The mountain specialist will probably take a wait-and-see approach for the time being and fully rely on the third week. "Now it's about seconds, in the third week it will be minutes. My form is getting better and better. I hope that I'll be ready in the third week. Remco's withdrawal changes things, but there are enough strong riders," explained the 27-year-old.

More tandems at the Giro d'Italia 2023

In addition to Bora-Hansgrohe, UAE Team Emirates also has two hot irons in the fire: Joao Almeida (currently 4th, 22 seconds behind) and Jay Vine (10th/+2:24). "That changes a lot. He (Evenepoel, Editor's note.) was one of the main contenders for overall victory. But my approach won't change much," explained Almeida on the rest day. "Jay Vine also has his goals in the classification. I think I'm still plan A, but it's good to have more than one tactic and to go into the final week with several options," continued the Portuguese rider.

And Bahrain-Vicorious can also still operate with a double lead. Damiano Caruso in seventh place, 1:28 minutes behind, and Jack Haig in 15th place, 2:58 minutes behind, should not be underestimated. Caruso in particular knew how to surprise in the time trial on Sunday, losing just 41 seconds to Geraint Thomas - a strong performance for a climber like the 35-year-old Italian, considering that his terrain is yet to come.