After it was announced that Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) would miss Saturday's Strade Bianche, it was decided that another star player, Tom Dumoulin, would be absent on Friday.

On Thursday, Dumoulin was in Tuscany for a course reconnaissance with his male and female Jumbo Visma teammates, including 2018 winner Thijsje Benoot and Marianne Vos. On Friday morning, however, he received word that he would not be participating in the race, and his team first announced that he would not be competing in the Strade Bianche due to "poor health."

WielerFlits (open in new tab) reported that Dumoulin tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday morning, but Jumbo-Visma could not confirm that to Cycling News, suggesting instead that Dumoulin himself would provide an update.

With Dumoulin out of Saturday's race, Benoot will lead the six-man Jumbo-Visma team, with Sepp Kuss, Robert Gesink, Kane Bouwman, Timo Roosen, and Milan Verder supporting the Belgian.

In 2022, Dumoulin participated in the UAE Tour, finishing third in the mid-race time trial and 41st overall.

Dumoulin has been below his best in the mountain stages of the week-long stage race, and team director Merijn Zeeman suggested earlier this week (opens in new tab) that the 31-year-old Dumoulin needs "more competition rhythm" before reaching his best form He suggested.

Pidcock and Dumoulin are not the only big names missing from this year's Strade Bianche. Bora Hansgrohe announced Friday morning that Leonard Kemna will miss the start due to gastrointestinal problems, and DSM's Romain Bardet will also be absent due to illness.

2021 winner Mathieu Van Der Pol of Alpecin Phoenix will not return to defend his title.

Tadey Pogachar (UAE Team Emirates), world champion Julian Alaphilippe (Quick Step-Alfa Vinyl) and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) will compete in the 2022 race.