Evenepoel and Roglič lose key domestiques through COVID-19 and illness
Race leader Remco Evenepoel and defending champion Primož Roglič both lost key domestiques for the hilly terrain on the morning of stage 9, leaving Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl and Jumbo-Visma with seven riders with two weeks left of the 2022 Vuelta a España.
The team of race leader Evenepoel confirmed that all-round talent Pieter Serry is the latest Vuelta rider to fall victim to COVID-19, joining Bahrain Victorious’s Wout Poels and the half-dozen others who have been forced to withdraw since the start.
“After falling ill overnight, Pieter Serry was tested by the team doctor for Covid-19. Unfortunately, the test has returned positive and Pieter will leave La Vuelta,” the team announced on social media. “The team will continue to implement a stringent testing regime & precautions in order to minimise the possibility of any further infections among the rest of the squad & staff.
“There will be no further comment made on the situation, other than to wish Pieter a speedy recovery.”
I’m so so disappointed to leave @lavuelta. Covid 19 got me for the first time, and yes, I’m ill. I wish my team all the best, you guys are all strong enough to fight for the red jersey. See you soon
— Pieter Serry (@Pieter_Serry) August 28, 2022pic.twitter.com/pmlbaQd4a1
Trek-Segafredo’s Daan Hoole was the first rider at the Vuelta to be hit by a positive test before stage 5. Since then, Jaakko Hänninen and Andrea Vendrame (AG2R-Citroën), Jan Hirt (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux), Anthony Delaplace (Arkéa Samsic) and DSM roommates Nikias Arndt and Mark Donovan have also been forced to withdraw, a number of them first-time infections.
While the coronavirus continues to have its say, other illnesses are also chiming in at the Spanish grand tour. A few days after his terrific ride in the hills with Groupama-FDJ teammate Rudy Molard, Jake Stewart was forced to head home with a gastro-intestinal complaint ahead of stage 8. And now the departure of Jumbo-Visma’s American talent Sepp Kuss, who withdraws due to fever.
— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) August 28, 2022
#LaVuelta22
Unfortunately, @seppkuss won’t take the start of stage 9⃣ due to fever. Get well soon, Sepp!pic.twitter.com/T5ttz5JPFE
Kuss’s absence is a big blow to Roglič who currently sits third overall. The 27-year-old was the Slovenian’s principal climbing domestique and was yet to come into his own at the Vuelta, a race at which he has thrived in the past, winning a stage in 2019 and finishing eighth overall in 2021.
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