The 2018 Vuelta champion Simon Yates withdrew on Wednesday before the 11th stage of this year’s race after testing positive for Covid-19, according to his BikeExchange team.
The 30-year-old Briton, who qualified for the time trial on Tuesday, was in fifth place overall.
After testing positive for Covid-19 before today’s stage 11, Team-BikeExchange-Jayco leader Simon Yates was forced to withdraw from the Vuelta a Espaa, according to a team statement.
“The 30-year-old experienced minimal symptoms over the course of the previous night and gave a positive test this morning. As per strict team policy, Yates will not continue in La Vuelta.
The medical staff of Team BikeExchange-Jayco will conduct additional testing to guarantee the security of the other team riders and staff.
Later on Wednesday, Ineos rider Pavel Sivakov, a French cyclist of Russian descent, joined Yates on the sidelines after also testing positive for Covid-19.
Sivakov, 25, who won the Tour de Burgos preliminary race and was ninth overall entering Wednesday’s stage, had entertained dreams of winning the Vuelta.
The number of people who have tested positive for Covid since last Friday has increased to 16 with Yates and Sivakov’s withdrawals.
Sam Bennett, an Irish cyclist who won two stages in this year’s race, was among the four cyclists who were forced to withdraw from Tuesday’s stage due to Covid.
The stage from Alhama de Murcia to Almeria, covering 191.2 kilometres, will be taken on Wednesday by the remaining 154 riders.
Primoz Roglic trails Remco Evenepoel of Belgium by 48 seconds in the overall standings.