Wet Roads, Broken Bodies, and a Race Director Nobody Trusts

Mark Soler’s front wheel went first. Then Jay Vine. Then Adam Yates. Three UAE riders into the same metal barrier on a soaking Bulgarian descent, and the Giro d’Italia neutralised the race for all of four kilometres before waving the peloton off again — general classification times still counting, ambulances still occupied with the broken bodies behind.

Jasper Stuyven did not mince words. “There were no ambulances left on course, but there was still a descent ahead that could have been dangerous,” the Soudal Quick-Step rider told Belgian outlet HLN. “After a crash like that, we wanted a neutralisation of the GC times, the brave ones could still race for the stage win — but on that next descent, there was no need for anyone to take unnecessary risks.”

Stuyven said he was among a group of riders — including Jonas Vingegaard and Filippo Ganna — who spoke with race management during the neutralisation. The response, per Stuyven: the race director “like a scared dog, he stuck his head out of the car, started waving his flag and shouted ‘race’ — before quickly pulling his head back inside.”

Vine fractured his elbow and sustained a concussion. Soler suffered a pelvic fracture. Yates developed delayed concussive symptoms after initially being cleared to continue. All three abandoned, along with Ådne Holter, Santiago Buitrago, and Andrea Vendrame. Six gone from a single stage.

The crash fell on the 15th anniversary of Wouter Weylandt’s death on a Giro descent. A sport that has buried Gino Mäder, André Drege, and Muriel Furrer in recent years did not need the reminder.

“Everyone knew the roads would be very slippery, and that’s exactly why everyone wanted to be at the front,” UAE’s António Morgado told Eurosport.

Vingegaard went on the attack over the final climb partly, he later admitted, for safety. “Especially with how it unfolded, I think it was the safest way to play the final.” When riders are attacking to minimise danger rather than gain time, the race has a problem.

Position is safety in professional cycling. Until it isn’t.

Sources

Jay Vine escapes serious injury after horrifying crash at Giro d’Italia — ABC Australia
‘Like a frightened dog’ – Jasper Stuyven criticises Giro d’Italia director following handling of stage 2 neutralisation — Cyclingnews
‘Really scary’: horror crash leaves Australia’s Jay Vine with broken elbow after Giro d’Italia carnage — The Guardian

Discussion (6)

daveycycles

UAE need to hire better bike handlers. Three riders into the SAME barrier? At some point that's on the team, not the race director.

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~mira

three riders into the same barrier on a wet descent and the solution was four whole kilometres of thinking about it... a sport that keeps burying people and the guy in charge pokes his head out like a meerkat and says 'race'... cool cool cool

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kev_from_leeds

if vingegaard was so worried about safety why did he attack on the final climb? attacking is literally more dangerous than sitting in the bunch. make it make sense

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bluecoat99

No ambulances left on course. They restart anyway. Four kilometres of neutralisation for three hospitalized riders. If someone goes down on that next descent, what's the plan? There is no plan. There's never a plan until someone dies and everyone acts shocked.

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Okay but the riders also bear responsibility here. Morgado literally says everyone knew the roads were slippery and everyone still fought for position. The race director made a bad call but the peloton isn't helpless. They could have collectively agreed to ride it safe through that section. They never do though, because someone always attacks.

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M_Tompson82

yeah just collectively agree in the middle of a grand tour stage, dead simple. riders have been trying that for decades PJ, someone always bolts and then everyone chases. that's the whole problem. you can't opt out of the peloton

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Discussion (6)

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