Giro d’Italia 2023: Aleksandr Vlasov latest big name to abandon as illness sweeps through peloton

Published 16/05/2023 at 13:16 GMT

The Giro d’Italia general classification has had another unscheduled shake-up after Aleksandr Vlasov became the latest big name to abandon. Pre-race favourite Remco Evenepoel quit the race on Sunday after testing positive for Covid, just hours after taking the maglia rosa, while Ineos star Filippo Ganna also left last week due to Covid. Vlasov is the 23rd rider to leave Italy.

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Aleksandr Vlasov (Bora-hansgrohe) has become the latest rider to abandon the Giro d’Italia after suffering with illness on Stage 10.

The Russian, 27, was sixth in the general classification, 1’03” adrift of Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) in the maglia rosa. It means Lennard Kamna, who started the day eighth in GC at 1’52”, will step into leadership duties for Bora.

Vlasov rode out for the cold and wet run to Viareggio but quickly fell behind the peloton and later stopped.

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“He clearly wasn’t himself from the start this morning,” said Dan Lloyd on Eurosport commentary.

“He soldiered on for as long as he could but eventually he had to pull the pin with no chance of getting himself back into contention.

“A great shame for Bora-hansgrohe, who put so much work into this race in getting him prepared for the final week, which he will never get to.”

Vlasov’s exit follows pre-race favourite Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) who quit the race with Covid on Sunday, just hours after taking the leader’s maglia rosa.

Nine riders failed to start Stage 10 after the first rest day, with Vlasov’s withdrawal taking the total retirements to 23. Ten riders have pulled out due to Covid, including Evenepoel and Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers).

Sven Erik Bystrom (Intermarche-Circus-Wanty) also withdrew from the Giro d'Italia on Tuesday after testing positive for Covid-19.

His team had initially said that he was going to continue at the race, before he pulled out.

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