Still on a high from Ben Healy's incredible demonstration to win yesterday's stage 8 at Giro d'Italia, EF Education-EasyPost has now become the latest team on the race to be hit with Covid-19.
While its Colombian rider, Rigoberto Urán, rode today's stage 9 TT - placing 31st at 2:05 - he was felling unwell after the race. He has since tested positive for the virus, which continues to loom over pro cycling, especially stage races.
Urán is now out of the race, ahead of tomorrow's rest day, and the US-registered World Tour team will hope he has been taken out of the team environment before passing on the virus to anyone else. The team has Hugh Carthy as its main general classification man; the British rider currently sitting in 17th overall at 4:07. Urán was 22nd at 6:23 before being forced out of the race.
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However, Ireland's Healy has been the star of the show for the team so far on this Giro and team boss Jonathan Vaughters, not to mention Irish cycling fans, will be keeping their fingers crossed Healy does not come down with the virus.
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With one win already under his belt - after a 51km solo move from the day's main breakaway yesterday - Healy (22) is highly fancied to take another stage victory before the race is done. Magus Cort and Alberto Bettiol could also take a victory as the race progresses.
"Rigoberto Urán has tested positive for Covid after displaying symptoms this evening," the team confirmed in a brief statement published on social media after today's stage 9 TT. "He will leave the Giro and take this time to rest before he resumes racing."
