Was there an ex-Movistar rider in the break? If there was we’d know for sure who instigated the protest!A case could also have been made for changing the stage finish to the KOM point where at least there would have been a proper line on the road to judge against.
If I was in the break I would be mightily pissed off with the peloton downing tools behind. That said it’s a prep race and not worth getting a nasty virus or infection that ruins your classics campaign or Grand Tour buildup.