Another one bites the dust. This time, the biggest one. Just after donning the pink jersey (awarded to the rider who sits at the top of the GC at the end of every day), Remco Evenepoel tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday.

In an absolute nightmare situation, Evenepoel will not be able to complete the remaining 12 stages. “I am really sorry to be leaving the race,” Evenepoel said in a statement. “As part of the team’s protocol, I took a routine test, which unfortunately was positive. My experience here has been really special and I was looking forward to competing over the next two weeks.”

Evenepoel’s Soudal–Quick Step team released a statement as well, saying that so far all other riders and staff have tested negative for COVID-19. Daily testing is becoming routine, once again.

But Evenepoel isn’t alone. The list of riders testing positive for COVID-19 is growing each day. EF Education EasyPost rider Rigoberto Urán also tested positive Sunday evening and will exit the race as well.

With so many riders contracting COVID-19, we won’t be surprised to see a return to masks and social restrictions. As we know from past years, stage race situations spread illness like wildfire.

With the absence of Evenepoel, Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) takes the race lead. Here’s to hoping we can get through the next two weeks without dwindling the peloton further.