Giro d'Italia 2023 Giro d'Italia, Stage 13: Borgofranco d’Ivrea – Crans Montana, 199 km (Friday, May 19th)

[Bolder]

I still find it difficult to believe that with modern cycling clothing and disc brakes that you couldn't figure out a way to ride comfortably in cold rain. The illness, in my opinion, is partly a result of riders to properly gear up. As they say, no bad weather, only bad clothes.

 

[Netserk]

It's ashame they didn't come up with an alternative stage, there are so many possibilities in the Rhone Valley, I'm sure some of the route creators on this forum could knock up an epic stage

If they had reasons to believe that not even the tunnel could be raced, they could have prepared an alternative stage that started in Martigny and climbed either Planches or Lein first.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

The fact the weather has been torrential is not besides the point, anyway - the stage has been shortened directly as a result of illness from the first two weeks. If you do not take that into account, then you are misunderstanding the entire reason behind the decision to shorten it.

This very simply isn't true, or at least it's not the main driver behind the riders' actions.

1. The majority of riders is not sick
2. There were far less riders sick the last time a Giro stage was shortened with the excuse of cold, wet weather
3. The weather isn't that bad today, so there was never going to be a bunch of racing in bad weather that would have aggravated any illnesses today

 

[Pirazziattacks]

So, where was today's life altering injury risk?

Maybe the biggest risk today for that is a serious crash in Croix de Coeur descent. Guess what makes that even more probable? A fresh peloton arriving there closer together. Guess what contributed to that? Today's collective decision.

I mean that the demand high level sport places on the body leaves a lot of people with life altering injuries at a much younger age than even people who work physical jobs (at least in most 1st world economies anyway). I wasn't talking about today's stage at all.

 

[Red Rick]

This very simply isn't true, or at least it's not the main driver behind the riders' actions.

1. The majority of riders is not sick
2. There were far less riders sick the last time a Giro stage was shortened with the excuse of cold, wet weather
3. The weather isn't that bad today, so there was never going to be a bunch of racing in bad weather that would have aggravated any illnesses today

Also find it a big coincident that during that extreme downpour on stage 10 nobody protested but much more moderate rain is too much

 

[Ricco']

Fitting

https://twitter.com/x/status/1659515860170539008

View: https://twitter.com/giroditalia/status/1659515860170539008

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

We pay them to entertain us. If they don't entertain, this sports becomes an afterthought. *** like today just hurts the sport in general.

You don’t pay them and they don’t owe you anything,

 

[DenisMenchov]

You don’t pay them and they don’t owe you anything,

Where do you think broadcaster's and sponsor's money come from?

 

[markene2]

You don’t pay them and they don’t owe you anything,

We kinda do, if none watches the sport you dont get any revnue.

 

[Fantastico]

The fact the weather has been torrential is not besides the point, anyway - the stage has been shortened directly as a result of illness from the first two weeks. If you do not take that into account, then you are misunderstanding the entire reason behind the decision to shorten it.

Where do you get that from? I have never heard that in an official statement yet.

Even Jack Haig said "The reason we didn't want to do the middle climb was because of the potentially dangerous surface on the descent. And then you don't have time to put on extra jackets”. He did not mention many riders being sick at all.

 

[Netserk]

I mean that the demand high level sport places on the body leaves a lot of people with life altering injuries at a much younger age than even people who work physical jobs (at least in most 1st world economies anyway). I wasn't talking about today's stage at all.

Open traffic leaves a lot of people with life altering injuries. Especially those on bikes.

Professional races, not so much.

 

[dobrien]

It's just unfair and ain't got nothing to do with safety.

Bardet could've placed a bid for a podium spot at the 2021 Giro d'Italia (wouldn't have materialized but still) on a Dolomites stage that would have seen Yates being completely out of contention.

They are denying riders to take advantage of their strengths.

This is it for me right here. Who are the riders we most admire, the ones who have produced the greatest epic rides on the greatest stages? The true hardmen, that's who. They are telling the toughest of the tough riders there is no longer a place for them in Grand Tours, and as such, it's just a different sport altogether. I am DEFINITELY not some armchair DS who considers riders to be simple cannon fodder, but this is cycling we're talking about here. By the time you're good enough to be a pro it's no secret what you're getting into.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

I mean that the demand high level sport places on the body leaves a lot of people with life altering injuries at a much younger age than even people who work physical jobs (at least in most 1st world economies anyway). I wasn't talking about today's stage at all.

How many cyclists have sustained life-altering injuries as a result of riding in the rain too much? It's an irrelevant point.

 

[Elos Anjos]

Either people accept that pro cycling is a risky, brutal sport and that riders have to accept that, or reform the sport and turn it to some other thing. That said, you can always ride with care but that doesn't stop other riders from taking risks and chances in order to win. If you normalize risks you will change the sport forever.

 

[EddyMazzoleni]

The stage is arguably harder now, so there absolutely will be spectacle. It's the sudden start uphill which will cause carnage. There's going to be sport & people will remember that.



I was going to post something along these lines but I couldn't be bothered whilst emotions here are running high.

I mean 'back in the good old days', we're referring to eras when riders had needles stuck up their backsides for breakfast, lunch & dinner. They weren't good role models or better men.

Yeah, thank god the good boys of today won't even think of doping.

 

[Faserr]

No rain at San bernardo

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[Peyroteo94]

Another red flag in cycling history. These cancellations are horrific!! They will do the dangerous descent. Why cancel the biggest climb in the race? What a bunch of clowns!

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Why can‘t the riders come up with a better reason, for example not wanting doping controls?

 

[hrotha]

I came here fully intending to read shitty opinions to make myself angry but on second thought nah, I'm ignoring you all just in case

Amazing character growth if you ask me

 

[EddyMazzoleni]

2023 has had the worst weather for the past century. Let's not make inane and cliched complaints about the frailties and sensitivities of the modern man.

This has been a spectacularly wet and cold May, and that has obviously affected the riders' decision more so than the actual stage today. 2010 doesn't come close to comparing to the first two weeks this year in terms of the weather.

Did you actually watch the 2010 Giro?
Up until the Aquila stage the weather was awful, and riders were actually contensting 200+ km stages.

 

[Pirazziattacks]

How many cyclists have sustained life-altering injuries as a result of riding in the rain too much? It's an irrelevant point.

Good thing the only person making that point is... you.

 

[Netserk]

I came here fully intending to read shitty opinions to make myself angry but on second thought nah, I'm ignoring you all just in case

Amazing character growth if you ask me

 

[Pirazziattacks]

Open traffic leaves a lot of people with life altering injuries. Especially those on bikes.

Professional races, not so much.

Are you claiming that training isn't part of the job?

 

[Pirazziattacks]

This is it for me right here. Who are the riders we most admire, the ones who have produced the greatest epic rides on the greatest stages? The true hardmen, that's who. They are telling the toughest of the tough riders there is no longer a place for them in Grand Tours, and as such, it's just a different sport altogether. I am DEFINITELY not some armchair DS who considers riders to be simple cannon fodder, but this is cycling we're talking about here. By the time you're good enough to be a pro it's no secret what you're getting into.

Like Adam Hansen you mean? Oh wait, everyone on here hates him. What's your point again?

 

[Red Rick]

Are you claiming that training isn't part of the job?

Training is unsafe, cancelling races is the solution