21/05/2024

Tadej Pogacar reacts to stage 16 chaos at the Giro: "I'll race if they want me to, but it's not ideal"

We still don't know if stage 16 of the Giro d'Italia 2024 will take place in its entirety or if the riders will be able to start at the Pratto dello Stelvio due to the bad weather conditions in the first kilometers and how dangerous the descent of the Umbrailpass can be. Thus, Tadej Pogacar, leader of the race and UAE Team Emirates, spoke before the race without knowing what will happen yet.

The organization is pushing for the race to go ahead, while the cyclists and teams are pushing for them to be transferred by car beyond the Umbrailpass so that they can ride a safe 120-kilometer stage. The truth is that it is currently snowing heavily in the area, and the riders will either start the race after the first three climbs; or start in Livigno and ride a nearby tunnel neutralized until the riders reach the valley that follows. True chaos is unfolding whilst some riders, such as Ben O'Connor, have already publicly criticized race organizers for trying to force the riders to race in freezing and snowy conditions as was originally planned.

Chaos at the Giro d'Italia! Stage 16 start and Umbrailpass cut, but no-one knows when or where the stage will start

Tadej Pogacar has spoken out still without knowing what is going to happen: "I don't know, I don't know anything, what I see is that the weather is terrible, from the hotel you see snowflakes at 1900 meters, going up 600 plus for sure it's full of snow so I think it's very dangerous going down," he told Eurosport. "I think it would be better designed the stage if there wasn't such a long descent after the Stelvio. It's not nice, ideally coming down from 2500 meters in the snow, but if they want us to race..."

"I'll race if they want me to, but it's not ideal. Hopefully there will be no incidents or dangerous moments during the race so there will be no regrets. We want everyone to be safe, I want it for all the riders, it sucks to race in snow and rain, but it wouldn't be the first time for me or for those here, but when there are so many mountains, I'm not going to decide, the riders mostly want to start after the Umbrailpass at Pratto dello Stelvio and shorten the stage."