Cycling, Giulio Ciccone positive for Covid: Giro d’Italia at risk

Just 24 hours after the good 13th place in the Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Giulio Ciccone tested positive for Covid-19. The test this morning following the appearance of some symptoms, defined as mild by his team, Trek-Segafredo. “Cicco” had been an excellent protagonist in Liège and for long stretches of the race he had chased together with his teammate Skjelmose the unleashed Remco Evenepoel. What is more serious now is the proximity to the Tour of Italy: in 12 days the Fossacesia-Ortona time trial will open the dances of the Pink strokeand right in Abruzzo, the birthplace of Ciccone. In the press release, Trek explains that “Giulio’s participation in the Giro is now on standby, to be decided after evaluating his recovery and obtaining a negative Covid test. A final decision will be made in the last few days before the start of the race.” .

Ciccone is the designated captain of Trek for the Giro, with ambitions for the general classification, and is back from one of the best springs of his career: he collected two stage successes at the Volta Valenciana and at the Volta a Catalunya, a 2nd place and the 5th final at the Tirreno-Adriatico. In Catalonia Ciccone had beaten Roglic and Evenepoel, the two big favorites for the final success in the Giro d’Italia. Last Wednesday he closed the Freccia Vallone in 5th place. Covid has not disappeared from the group. Before Liège, no less than two riders from Jumbo-Visma, Sam Oomen and Tosh Van der Sande, had tested positive for the virus.