Carrick-on-Suir's Sam Bennett has been forced to withdraw from the Vuelta Espana after testing positive for Covid-19.
Having sprinted to two stage victories in the race already, he was well in contention for the green jersey.
He has now become the 12th rider to be forced out of the race due to Covid.
He had been due to start just after 2 o'clock this afternoon, however, BORA-Hansgrohe have taken to twitter to say that "Sam returned a positive antigen test this morning, and also showed some symptoms. Therefore we decided that he wouldn’t start today’s stage".
🇪🇸 #LaVuelta22 @Sammmy_Be returned a positive antigen test this morning, and also showed some symptoms. Therefore we decided that he wouldn’t start today’s stage.
— BORA – hansgrohe (@BORAhansgrohe) August 30, 2022
Bennett, who won the green jersey at the 2020 Tour de France, had been sitting just five points off Mads Pedersen.
His team-mate, Ryan Mullen, told Cycling Weekly shortly after finishing his time-trial today that Bennett's withdrawal is a "massive shame" and that Sam is really disappointed.
Mullen is now the sole Irish rider in the Vuelta.
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