Ineos Grenadiers road captain and Classic rider Luke Rowe has revealed that he has been infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Luke Lowe, a native of Wales, posted a message on Twitter, suggesting that the virus has put an untimely end to his 2020.

"COVID got me! See you in 2021, folks," Lowe wrote, adding a Christmas wish.

"Merry Christmas & Happy New Year, ya filthy beasts !!!"

Lowe is one of Ineos' main riders. He told Cycling News in February that he had signed a new contract with the team through 2023.Lowe, who joined the British team in 2012, has been a mainstay of the classic team and the Tour de France, playing a key role in protecting the team leader on the flat stages. He has contributed to seven Tour de France victories.

Lowe hails from Cardiff, one of the regions of Wales most afflicted by the COVID-19 virus. According to Public Health Wales (PHW), the number of recent cases has shown an "alarming increase" across Wales.

Twelve council areas in south Wales hit new highs again on Tuesday, with four of them among the 10 highest in the UK as a whole in the latest comparable data.

Lowe cannot train outdoors until he tests negative for COVID-19 and must undergo a series of checks to ensure he is fully recovered in accordance with UCI medical protocols.

Teammate and time trial world champion Filippo Ganna also tested positive for COVID-19 after completing the Giro d'Italia. He spent three weeks in isolation at home, but later made a full recovery and trained in Gran Canaria with several teammates.

Ineos will attend a warm-weather training camp on Gran Canaria in early January.