The director of the Giro d’Italia, Angelo Zomegnan, was put on the hot seat yesterday when the peloton refused to race on what they considered a dangerous course that had disregard for their safety.
Granted this isn’t the first time that riders have protested a Grand Tour stage due to racing conditions, but adding to the complication was the emotional circumstance since the stage fell on the 100th anniversary of the start of the first Giro d’Italia.
While Zomegnan didn’t agree with the rider’s descision, he realized that the best thing for the race was to work out a compromise and move on. The director understood that the peloton was still in a bit of shock after the horrific fall of Pedro Horrillo (Rabobank) the previous day, and believes that the “Milan Show” stage would not have been an issue had that unrelated incident not occured.
Chief among the complaints from the riders were the parked cars along the course, narrow turns, and railway tracks just before the finish line.
Zomegnan defended the course by saying it is “Very similar” to Gent-Wevelgem and the Amstel Gold race, and his hope is that the race will continue without any further complications.