Some say that comedy is mostly about timing.
Perhaps cycling is similar.
The main problem here was with the last minute decision to change the stage (significantly).
Some topics of conversation:
The original stage was increased from 253 kms to 258 kms; not a major difference. Still, it was a decision made well into the race. Apparently due to a town refusing to accept the cyclists due to covid. Fair enough, in a way. But hasn't the second wave been in full effect since well before the start of the race? (More than welcome to receive information telling me that this regions numbers have increased dramatically in recent days if this is the case)
If the issue is lengthy transfers then again, fair enough. Something should be done about that, but to protest on the day of the actual stage is not the time for it. Protest as soon as the parcours is released (which was roughly twelve months ago). Get something done about it sooner.
It is VERY important in terms of race strategy for the teams and riders to know what they will have to endure and encounter, as they enter in to the three weeks. Some riders plan specifically for certain stages, to suit an individual strength. More importantly, late changes to parcours can effect the GC. Someone mentioned elsewhere that maybe even Sunweb would have made the call for Hindley to sit up for Kelderman on Stelvio if they had known that stage 19 (as well as stage 20) was to be reduced as far as difficulty was concerned, and that Wilco, if they were concerned about his ability to ride out the three weeks strongly, would now be more likely to hold on. Or likewise, that Tao may have ridden harder up the final climb knowing about this stage change (unlikely, but still). It reminds me of a stage in the 1998 TDF which the riders refused to ride at all, and it was the final mountain stage. Unlikely again, but who knows, perhaps Ullrich would have dropped Pantani that day? Anyway, different circumstances then of course, but the point is that late changes to the course don't do a race any favours. Of course sometimes late changes are unavoidable (like at last years TDF), but this wasn 't one of those circumstances.
The immune system excuse doesn't hold water either. Again, this second wave has been in effect for ages now, since well before the start of the race. Covid was actually a reasonable excuse never to begin the race in the first place. It isn't a reasonable excuse to not race now imo.
Further in regards to long transfers: Everything should not be about money. If a transfer is too long, then don't start in that town. If that means that the riders have to take a 20% pay cut, then so be it. At least if I was a professional road cyclist, then I think I would prefer the relative comfort of getting to bed at 8pm at night during a three week race, rather than at 10pm or later, before I went ahead and left everything out on the road again the next day, for a slightly reduced wage. Just my two cents.