Evenepoel texted Thomas to say he was retiring and the Welshman thought it was a joke

From the initial surprise to the confirmation that the words he was reading were not jokes but confirmation of bad news. Geraint Thomas He was one of the first people to know it Remco Evenepoel he tested positive for Covid and at first did not believe what he said. This is what the Welsh runner acknowledged at the Ineos team press conference this Monday on the first day of the race break.

Within minutes of making his decision public, “Remco sent me a message,” Thomas said at a press conference. “At first, I thought he was joking, especially after what happened Roglic, but then I saw his speech and I thought it was amazing,” added Geraint.

The truth is Thomas thought of it because after the seventh episode roglic He also told her that he had Covid, but this time the words of Cousin They are the product of a joke. The difference is that this time Evenepoel is serious.

“We had a short conversation. He told me that what he wanted was to inform me that he would not be continuing the race because of Covid. I told him that it was bad news and that I was sorry,” explained the member ofhe Ineos, that this Tuesday will be angry when he starts the 10th episode.

“Being the leader of the race is a great honor, but it’s not the way a cyclist wants to wear the leader’s jersey, but it happened and that’s it. I will wear it with pride. I only wish Remco the best and get well soon,” he said.

Thomas did not hide that after what happened to Evenepoel and what happened to his teammate like, there is a certain fear in the British formation, to the point that they have changed their course of action. So, on their morning bike ride to stretch their legs after a day’s rest, they didn’t stop at a cafeteria, but instead had coffee at the team’s concentration hotel and made it themselves. A new era prevails in the Giro caravan after the positive Evenepoel.