‘The race organisation is a bit of a joke’ – Riders hit back, question safety at Giro d’Italia after farcical start

Riders have hit out at Giro d’Italia race organisers amid the confusion and anger surrounding the farcical start of stage 16 in Livigno which, due to extreme weather, had to see its route eventually altered and racing postponed.

Ben O’Connor (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), who sits fourth overall on GC, branded them as “dinosaurs” in his pre-race interview, in line with the riders protesting that the planned ascent and descent of the Umbrail Pass in freezing and snowy conditions was too dangerous and not worth the risk in modern cycling.