Adam Hansen, the chairman of the cyclist's union, the CPA has revealed that a vote by riders on whether or not the route of Stage 13 could/should have been changed was almost unanimous.
“The weather conditions during this Giro are very intense,” says Hansen, a former Giro d'Italia stage winner in his own right. “That is why the riders voted last night to invoke the Extreme Weather Protocol for this ride. If there was an 80% majority, then the rest of the riders would follow that decision. In that case, a change of route would be advocated.”
“The procedure was anonymous and 90% voted in favour. The CPA and I therefore support that decision,” Hansen continues. “If anyone disagrees, they can target me. Send your criticism to me, but don't focus on other riders."
Due to a delay in the arrival of some of the team buses, the beginning of the stage was delayed again to 15:00CET causing added confusion. “Cyclists are the heroes of our sport. I believe that they should focus on the price itself and not have to deal with negative comments,” explains the CPA chairman. “I want to thank the Giro organization for understanding the riders perspective. Something had to change.”
“The extreme weather conditions are beyond anyone's responsibility. The riders are grateful for the support of the RCS, the volunteers and the fans. They will do their best to put on a show for everyone to watch!” Hansen concludes.