Caspar Asgreen has been ruled out of the Quick Step Alphavinil squad for the Tour de la Provence, which starts Thursday, February 10, due to a positive test for COVID-19.

Asgreen was scheduled to line up alongside world champions Julian Alaphilippe, Davide Ballerini, Dries Devenance, Pieter Serry, and newcomers Ilan Van Wilder and Louis Verweke.

"Unfortunately, @k_asgreen (Kasper Asgreen) will not be able to start the season at the Tour de la Provence due to his positive test for Covid-19. As a result, the team will start the race with six riders."

"Everyone at Quick Step Alpha Vinyl wishes Kasper a speedy recovery!"

Dane is not the only rider whose race plans have been suspended this season due to a positive test for COVID-19; Jumbo Visma, Team DSM, and Team BikeExchange have withdrawn from the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, and Movistar also had two riders leave the race due to positive tests for COVID-19.

Asgreen, who won the Tour de Flanders in 2021, was scheduled to begin his preparation for the classics at the Tour de la Provence. He was one of the riders, along with Van Wilder and Alaphilippe, the team was hoping for a good result in the 7.1km opening time trial. Asgreen placed fifth in the 2019 time trial.

In last year's event, Alaphilippe was second overall behind Ivan Sosa, then a rider for Ineos Grenadiers. Making his racing debut this season at the Tour de la Provence, the French rider earned enough time bonuses in the final sprinters' stage to shift up to the second step in 2021, ahead of Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers). Ballerini also won the team's first two stages last year and took the sprinters' jersey.

Quick-Step Alfa Vinyl, with a team of six, will tackle a course that shifts from a prologue to a stage for sprinters and punchers this year. The final day, Sunday, February 13, features a 3,251-meter ascent, culminating in the long 17-kilometer climb of the Montagne de Lure with an average gradient of 6%.

Sosa is the defending champion this year with his new team, Movistar, and 2020 winner Nairo Quintana (Alcare Samsic) will also start his season with this race.