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Overall leader Wilco Kelderman (left) before the start of the 19th Giro stage
Photo:
LUCA BETTINI / AFP
The Giro d'Italia is one of three major tours in cycling, but is clearly behind the Tour de France in public perception.
This is all the more true in this year marked by the corona pandemic, in which the Giro started only two weeks after the tour and even has to compete with the Vuelta in Spain in the final week.
The Tour of Italy has lost its value - and that is exactly how the participating drivers and teams behave.
After a protest by the professionals, the 19th stage on Friday was shortened significantly.
In view of the extremely adverse weather conditions and concerns about health in the worsening corona situation, the organizers decided to reduce the originally 258-kilometer section to 124 kilometers, starting in Morbegno.
After a long period of uncertainty, the organizers decided on Abbiategrasso as the new starting point and the race resumed at 2.30 p.m.
The stage was initially neutralized after eight kilometers.
The drivers returned to the team buses and were driven to Abbiategrasso.
Only the day before had the professional cyclists mastered the royal stage over the snow-covered Stilfser Joch.
According to media reports, resentment had already spread in the peloton on Thursday evening about the necessity of such a long stage in bad weather in the final week.
Race director Vegni announces the consequences
It is unclear when the organizer RCS Sport was informed of the drivers' plans.
Race director Mauro Vegni said that he had no knowledge of this development the day before - and showed little understanding for the rebellious attitude.
Vegni even threatened legal action:
"I think we will talk to the lawyers. We believe that there will be consequences," said Vegni, who lamented the lack of respect for the race and the viewers, the TV broadcaster Rai: "It's not over yet. Let finish the race and reach Milan, someone will pay for it.
In fact, some Giro observers are wondering whether the riders would have made such a decision at the Tour de France.
Since the start of the Giro there had been repeated upsets.
The sometimes long transfers were also irritating.
"1:30 hours in the bus in the morning, 6:30 hours in the saddle, followed by a further 2:30 hours in the bus. So that you have an idea why we don't go full throttle from kilometer zero," tweeted the Italian Jacopo Guarnieri ( Groupama-FDJ).
The anti-corona concept was also criticized by professional cyclists during the race.
The EF Pro Cycling team had requested a break on the second day of the Giro rest, the Belgian Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal) felt "not safe".
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