UAE Team Emirates have confirmed that João Almeida is out of the Vuelta a España with COVID-19.
Almeida, 26, is not going to begin Sunday’s stage 9 from Motril to Sierra Nevada. The Portuguese star, third within the 2023 Giro d’Italia, had already suffered a serious time loss on stage 8, received by Primož Roglič (UAE Team Emirates).
After racing the Tour de France in assist of the winner Tadej Pogačar, Almeida had made a powerful begin within the Vuelta, ending tenth within the opening time trial on dwelling soil in Lisbon, then ending alongside Roglič within the first uphill end at Villuercas to maneuver into second total.
He continued in a podium place all through the next week, however was seen weaving round in the back of the peloton on stage 8 even earlier than the brief closing climb to Cazorla, the place he misplaced 4:53 and plummeted to twenty sixth.
In a press release from workforce medical director Dr Adrian Rotunno, UAE mentioned: “João reported feeling unwell throughout stage 8 of La Vuelta. After additional examination and present process a PCR check which confirmed a Covid 19 an infection, the choice has been made to withdraw him from the race in the very best curiosity of his, the workforce, and the peloton’s security. He will now journey dwelling for restoration.”
This is just not the primary time COVID-19 has wrecked Almeida’s possibilities in a Grand Tour. He already needed to stop the 2022 Giro d’Italia, the place he was operating fourth total, with the virus.
With morale excessive after profitable the Giro and Tour, the exit of Almeida leaves one of many strongest pre-race squads, UAE Team Emirates, struggling to affect on the GC on the Vuelta.
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The workforce obtained off to a flying begin due to Brandon McNulty profitable the opening time trial, however Adam Yates, co-leader for the general, crashed closely on stage 6 and is now greater than 9 minutes adrift of race chief Ben O’Connor (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale).
It stays to be seen whether or not teammate Isaac del Toro, presently their greatest positioned rider at 6:32 down however using his first ever Grand Tour, will shift in direction of a GC technique or if UAE now decide to concentrate on stage wins.
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