Joao Almeida, the young UAE rider who wore the 'white jersey' in this Giro d'Italia, will not start stage 18. The Portuguese felt bad on Wednesday night and this Thursday he tested positive for coronavirus.

"True true. it is coronavirus. It's bullshit. He wasn't feeling too good last night and this morning we ran internal tests. Now we will do the PCR but the rapid test came back positive. He's out of the running. He has mild symptoms, so the most important thing is his health, that he recovers well. We tested all the runners, but he is the only positive one", confirmed the manager of the UAE, Mauro Gianetti, to 'Velonews'.

This situation brings Mikel Landa even closer to being on the Giro podium next Sunday.

Almeida, who fought for the pink jersey until yesterday, where he succumbed to the alpine walls, was fourth overall, just 59 seconds behind the Basque rider, who is third. Landa, one minute and five seconds behind the leader Carapaz, still has hopes of getting the first big lap from him. On Saturday, at the Marmolada, he will have his chance.