Stuyven criticises Giro d'Italia director for stage 2 handling

Belgian cyclist Jasper Stuyven has expressed his discontent with the Giro d'Italia race director, Marco Velo, following the management of the stage 2 neutralisation after a mass crash. Stuyven likened Velo's demeanor to that of a "frightened dog" when the race was swiftly restarted without any neutralisation of times for the general classification in the closing kilometres. Although Stuyven avoided being caught in the pileup that occurred 22 kilometers from the finish in Veliko Tarnovo, he believed that the overall classification (GC) times should have been neutralised during the last stretch.

As emergency services attended to the injured from the crash, the rolling neutralisation lasted four kilometers, yet racing resumed unusually quickly with 18 kilometers remaining in the stage. The finish times were ultimately counted, leading to the final challenging ascent of the Lyaskovets Monastery Pass being raced as usual. Stuyven communicated with race officials during the neutralisation, insisting that a GC time neutralisation was imperative to allow racers to compete for the stage win without putting their safety at risk. He remarked, "After that crash, we wanted a neutralisation of the times for the general classification, so that the daredevils could still fight for the stage win, but no unnecessary risks would have to be taken on the next descent."

Stuyven recounted that the race director merely "stuck his head out of the car like a frightened dog, started waving his flag, and shouted 'race'," before quickly retreating back into the vehicle. Ultimately, the last few kilometers concluded without further incidents, with Guillermo Thomas Silva clinching victory in a reduced sprint group. Jonas Vingegaard launched an attack over the climb, acknowledging that his decision considered safety given the preceding chaos. "Especially with how it unfolded, I think it was the safest way to play the final," he said. The Giro d'Italia continues with stage 3 set to take place on Sunday in Sofia, with several cyclists, including Marc Soler, Jay Vine, Adam Yates and three others, having withdrawn due to injuries from the crash.