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CYCLING: The Giro d’Italia will move into its second week without the two big pre- race favourites but with no shortage of intrigue as the battle for pink continues.

The Italian Grand Tour is well known for throwing up the unexpected, but even by its own standards this year’s edition is, in the words of two- time winner Vincenzo Nibali, “a very strange Giro”.

Geraint Thomas’ race- ending crash, caused by a stray drinks bottle in the neutralised zone of stage three, was a cruel, freak incident, but the loss of Britain’s other great hope Simon Yates after a positive Covid test raises bigger concerns.

Teams spent yesterday’s rest day nervously awaiting the results of the latest testing, aware the virus had penetrated the bubble once already at a time when cases across Europe are on the rise and major races including Paris- Roubaix have been cancelled as a result.

Assuming all 160 remaining riders from the original 176 roll out of Lanciano for Tuesday’s stage 10 to Tortoreto, Joao Almeida will still be in pink, but with his lead cut to 30 seconds after Wilco Kelderman moved up on the steep ramps of Roccaraso on Sunday afternoon.

Almeida, riding his first Grand Tour at the age of 22, has held the pink jersey since last Monday’s finish on Mount Etna.

Three rolling stages to start the second week before a flat day on Friday will offer hope the Deceuninck- QuickStep rider can carry it into the weekend, though the Portuguese rider does not anticipate holding it much longer.

“I think it’s too early for me,” said Almeida when asked if he could win. “To win the general classification, I don’t believe I can do it but I guess we have to see. I have never done three weeks and there are other guys with so much experience.”