"Safety was fully guaranteed" - Giro d'Italia organisers bite back after Vingegaard and riders protest stage 15 circuit

The fall-out from Sunday's 15th stage of the Giro d'Italia continued on the rest day as race organisers criticised the Jonas Vingegaard-led appeal that saw general classification times neutralized during the race, with riders lobbying about the dangers of the Milan circuit.

What was penned to be a stunning day of racing on the streets of the Northern Italy city - often used as a stunning finishing point of the Corsa Rosa - turned into a tension-fuelled battle between riders and the race jury that ultimately led to a rule change on the move.

As riders took on an urban circuit through the streets of Milan, pink jersey Jonas Vingegaard spent long stretches back at the commissaires car arguing about the circuit's safety on behalf of his fellow riders. A course with potholes, tramlines and uneven surfaces also saw Giulio Ciccone and Victor Campenaerts involved in talks.

The commissaires first appeared to settle on stopping the general classification times with five kilometres remaining. But after further discussions, GC times were taken as the riders crossed the line to begin the final lap, with 16.3 kilometres still to go.

“I might have spent more time today in the race director’s car than in my own team car,” the Dane joked post-stage on Cycling Pro Net. Behind the light tone, however, lay a clear critique of the course design and, in particular, the road surface on Milan’s streets. “As riders, we all felt today that maybe this wasn’t the safest circuit to race on,” he added.

He continued: “The road here wasn’t the best". He then listed a series of obstacles that complicated bunch handling: “There were lots of potholes, lots of those bumps in the road pretty much all the time. I’d say, basically, there wasn’t a single moment when I felt safe trying to grab my bidon or take a gel."

The Dane also pointed to the tram tracks: “There were many, and it was very, very bumpy going over them."

RCS Sport, the organisers behind the Giro d'Italia, have made it clear that they don't agree with the move from Vingegaard and fellow riders. In a definitive push-back against the decision, RCS Sport CEO Paolo Bellino defended their use of the Milan circuit and its safety.

“We inspected every metre and its safety was fully guaranteed,” Bellino told Gazzetta dello Sport.

After the rest day on Monday, however, the Giro d'Italia rolls on and to another mountain-top finish. Tuesday's 16th stage sees another opportunity for Vingegaard and Visma | Lease a Bike to stamp their authority on the race and take another huge step towards the Maglia Rosa.