Not surprisingly, SD Worx-Protime is not letting the wild incident after Stage 1–where its star rider, Lorena Wiebes, and winner of the day, was disqualified, go.
The fallout from the dramatic Giro d’Italia Women DQ is far from over, with now threatening legal action against the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).
Wiebes appeared to have enjoyed the perfect start to the race on Saturday, sprinting to victory in Ravenna and pulling on the maglia rosa. The day had already been chaotic with several crashes. One of them took out British star Cat Ferguson. But eventually, the Dutch ace took the bunch sprint, and the pink jersey. Happy days, it seemed.
SD Worx-Protime will fight
Hours later, however, race officials disqualified the Dutch champion and expelled her from the Giro after determining that her bike fell below the UCI’s minimum weight limit of 6.8 kg.
Speaking to Dutch broadcaster NOS, team manager Erwin Janssen said the squad intends to challenge the ruling.
“We can’t just let this go,” Janssen said, calling the situation “ridiculous” and adding that the team plans to pursue every possible avenue, “including legally.” According to NOS, SD Worx is preparing a letter holding the governing body liable for damages.
The team’s frustration centres on the weighing procedure. Janssen said two measurements of the bike reportedly differed by roughly 50 grams and questioned whether the scales had been properly recalibrated.
Same bike all year
He also noted that Wiebes has raced the same bike setup throughout the season and that previous UCI checks found it comfortably above the weight threshold.
Directeur sportif Danny Stam told NOS that Wiebes was so disappointed by the decision that the team immediately sent her back to the Netherlands.
“Lorena has already gone home,” Stam said. “We came here expecting to win three or four stages. To lose that opportunity in this way is very painful.”
Wiebes’ disqualification handed the stage win and race lead to Elisa Balsamo. Of course, it is not the way I want to win but this is a decision of the jury. In any case, it’s an honour to wear the maglia rosa and I am looking forward to trying to defend it in tomorrow’s stage,” the Italian on Lidl-Trek said after the race.
The top Canadian was Alison Jackson, who was 12th, and now 11th, after Wiebes was removed from the standings.
Sunday’s stage is basically flat with a short ramp mid-way. However, in a few days the Giro starts…
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