Conn McDunphy is out of Rás Tailteann with Covid-19 and other members of the EvoPro Racing team are isolating in Belgium, where they had been staying over the last week. The team has also been forced to withdraw from Tour d'Eure-et-Loir (2.2) which gets underway in France today, Friday.
McDunphy had been due to ride that race, as a Rás tune-up, along with Cian Keogh, JB Murphy, Tom Moriarty, Liam Curley and Maarten Verheyen. However, instead of being on the start line in France, those riders are isolating in a bid to stop the spread of Covid-19 in their group.
Moriarty, Keogh and Curley are due to ride Rás Tailteann, which gets underway next Wednesday. The team is very hopeful those plans will go ahead. However, one other rider and one staff member have been displaying symptoms associated with Covid-19, though have tested negative so far.
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The team has informed the UCI of McDunphy's positive test result and also that the other riders and staff are in isolation as they were all close contacts at the team house in Aalter. For now, McDunphy is the only confirmed case, which means he will definitely not be able to ride the Rás, a bitter blow for the 25-year-old.
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He has made great strides in recent seasons and has emerged as one of Ireland's best riders over the last three or four years. He won the Irish elite TT title two years ago and has also come back from a very serious crash in France just days after he claimed the Irish crown.
“I’m truly gutted for Conn it was one of his seasons goals to add his name to the George Plant trophy," said Morgan Fox, EvoPro Racing co-founder and director.
"He is a battler and was on fine firm but will now refocus on our European campaign. We will monitor him closely to ensure a safe return to the peloton as soon as possible.
"I have full faith in my guys for the Rás and our commitment to developing Irish riders. We will liaise closely with the team doctor to ensure we are clear before travel from HQ in Aalter , Belgium. Covid is on a resurgence within the peloton and must be monitored closely.”
