"She has lost several victories over something so marginal": Annemiek Van Vleuten reacts to Wiebes' Giro disqualification

The disqualification of Lorena Wiebes from the 2026 Giro d’Italia Donne continues to stir debate in the peloton. The Dutch rider was removed from the race just hours after a brilliant opening-day performance, once it was found her bike fell below the UCI’s minimum weight.

Wiebes’s bike underwent a post-stage inspection and the result showed it weighed twenty grams less than permitted by the regulations. That seemingly tiny margin led to the rider’s exclusion from the race.

Annemiek van Vleuten admitted that, on instinct, she would have preferred a less severe sanction.

"My first reaction would be to strip the stage win and let her start the next day on a compliant bike. However, the rules are the rules and they are clearly defined. Teams know they must respect them," she clarified for NOS.

The former rider also showed empathy for Wiebes’s situation, arguing that the infringement did not deliver a real sporting benefit.

"It’s a very tough situation. She has lost several victories over something that gave her no advantage. We’re talking about barely four tea bags. Maybe on a climb there could be some difference, but certainly not one that decides a win. And even less so in a completely flat stage," she said.

Team SD Worx - Protime explained that Wiebes had raced all season on the same bike. Even so, Van Vleuten believes that argument does not justify what happened.

She noted that seemingly minor tweaks can change the final system weight. "Swapping the chainring, fitting a different front derailleur, or even adding a bit more sealant in the tires can account for those twenty grams. That’s why it doesn’t look like a particularly careful approach."

The Dutchwoman also questioned why a team would take such a big risk when the potential gain is virtually nil. "It’s a good question. You expose yourself to a huge sanction for something that really adds nothing. In 2019 I also had a bike that was exactly 6.8 kilos. My team decided to add a twenty-gram counterweight to build in a safety margin. It felt odd to add weight, but it was far better than risking a disqualification."

Van Vleuten finally reminded that the UCI allows no tolerance in these measurements, so she considers that edging up to the limit is never the best strategy.