Giro organization short stage 13: mixed reactions from the peloton

The Giro organization has adjusted the course of stage thirteen. The weather conditions are too bad to complete the ride in its entirety and so the ride is shortened. It rains cats and dogs all day long and it is freezing cold on top of the mountain tops. After adjusting the course, only 75 kilometers of the original route remain.

Initially, stage thirteen guaranteed a triptych of tough mountain passes. Via the Gran San Bernado and the Croix de Coeur, the race would finish on top of the Crans Montana. But it’s too dangerous to dispute the Gran San Bernardo and its descent, so that mountain pass has been taken out.

After an informal start in today’s original starting place, the riders got back into the team buses. All participants are now on their way to the foot of the Croix de Coeur, where a new start will take place around 2:30 PM. From there the remainder of the stage will be completed. So today we get a supersonic fast ride of 75 kilometers with two very tough climbs on the course.

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Not everyone in the peloton agrees with the decision of the organization. Jack Haig, among others, was very outspoken, the Australian from Bahrain-Victorious does not understand it. “I do not agree with it. We didn’t want to do the middle climb because the road surface in the section is dangerous and we don’t have enough time to put on clothes. Now we start at the foot of the climb, there will be a hard race and so everyone will be warm. Then everyone plunges like crazy into the descent to close possible gaps, it is life-threatening. I don’t understand it,” said Haig

Ben Healy is not happy at all that the stage is being shortened. “To be honest, I just think we should race. This is what I grew up with watching the Giro, I think it’s a real shame. But it will be a super fast and difficult day, and I am looking forward to it”, says the Irishman from EF Eductaion-EasyPost.

Update: starting at 3:00 PM

It’s been a crazy day in the Giro so far. The restart of the stage was scheduled for 2:30 PM, but the bus trip towards the foot of the Croix de Coeur has been delayed and so the start will be pushed back by half an hour. Classification leader Thomas is looking forward to it despite everything. “There was extensive discussion yesterday, it is a good decision to adjust the course. There will still be very hard driving, this is a nice compromise.”