Geraint Thomas has taken control of the Giro d’Italia following Remco Evenepoel’s unfortunate withdrawal from the race after testing positive for Covid-19.

Evenepoel, the 23-year-old world champion, had put in a sensational performance in the Stage 9 individual time trial on Sunday, beating Thomas by just one second to reclaim the pink jersey and build a commanding 45-second lead in the general classification.

However, his hopes of winning the race came crashing down when he tested positive for Covid-19, forcing him to withdraw from the Giro.

Evenepoel’s absence now blows the general classification wide open, with Thomas taking over the race lead and holding a narrow two-second advantage over Primoz Roglic. Thomas’ Ineos Grenadiers teammate Tao Geoghegan Hart is only three seconds further back in third.

Roglic is arguably the favourite for the overall win, given Evenepoel’s withdrawal and his strong performance in the race so far. The Slovenian was expected to go head-to-head with Evenepoel for the win, but his hopes were dashed in the 2022 Vuelta a Espana when a crash ended his chances of victory.

With 12 stages remaining, including five-star mountain stages and a gruelling Stage 20 time trial, this race has taken a major twist, and there could be more surprises in store in the coming days.

Thomas, who won the Tour de France in 2018, has a wealth of experience in these high-pressure situations, and his experience could prove vital as the race heads into its final stages.

Ineos Grenadiers, the team of Thomas and Geoghegan Hart, have looked strong in the race so far, and they will be hoping to continue their form as the race enters its toughest stages.

The team’s strength in depth means that they have a number of options when it comes to tactics and race strategy, and this could prove crucial in the final stages of the race.

Thomas holds a narrow two-second lead over Primoz Roglic. Thomas’ teammate Tao Geoghegan Hart is just a further three seconds back.

With Thomas, Roglic, and Geoghegan Hart all in contention for the win, there is still plenty of excitement to come in the remaining stages of the race.

The race will resume after a rest day on Monday, with the riders facing a challenging mountain stage on Tuesday. With the race in the balance, this could be a crucial day in determining the outcome of this year’s Giro d’Italia.