‚Like a frightened dog‘ – Jasper Stuyven criticises Giro d’Italia director following handling of stage 2 neutralisation

Soudal-QuickStep rider Jasper Stuyven has criticised Giro d’Italia organisers following stage 2’s mass crash and subsequent neutralisation, likening the race director Marco Velo to a „frightened canine“ after the race was rapidly restarted with no GC neutralisation within the closing kilometres.

The Belgian wasn’t among the many riders caught within the pileup 22km from the top of the stage to Veliko Tarnovo, however he has mentioned that the GC occasions ought to have been neutralised over the ultimate kilometres of the hilly run-in.

As a substitute, the rolling neutralisation continued for 4km as race ambulances and medics tended to these injured within the crash, with racing getting again underway surprisingly rapidly with 18km to go.

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GC occasions on the end counted, which means the late climb of Lyaskovets Monastery Cross – and its descent – have been all raced as regular simply moments after the crash.

„There have been no extra ambulances. However there was nonetheless a descent to return that would have been harmful,“ Stuyven informed Het Laatste Nieuws after the stage.

He was one in every of a number of riders – together with Jonas Vingegaard, Jonathan Milan, and Filippo Ganna – to talk with race organisers through the neutralisation. He claimed {that a} neutralisation of the GC occasions was requested.

„After that crash, we wished a neutralisation of the occasions for the overall classification, in order that the daredevils might nonetheless struggle for the stage win, however no pointless dangers must be taken on the following descent,“ Stuyven mentioned.

„The race director mentioned they have been trying into it. Whereupon he caught his head out of the automotive like a frightened canine, began waving his flag, and shouted ‚race‘. Solely to rapidly stick his head again into the automotive.“

In the long run, any additional catastrophe was prevented through the closing kilometres of the stage, gained by Guillermo Thomas Silva in a lowered group dash.

Vingegaard went on the assault excessive of the climb, later admitting that his transfer had been partly taken with security in thoughts. „Particularly with the way it unfolded, I believe it was the most secure option to play the ultimate,“ he mentioned.

The Giro d’Italia continues with stage 3 to the Bulgarian capital Sofia on Sunday, minus six riders who have been caught up within the crash. UAE Workforce Emirates-XRG trio Marc Soler, Jay Vine, and Adam Yates are all out of the race, as are Ådne Holter (Uno-X Mobility), Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious), and Andrea Vendrame (Jayco-AlUla).

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