Good morning,
Welcome to our live coverage of stage 16 of this year's Giro d'Italia.
After a rest day in Livigno, the riders face another tough day in the high mountains. Tadej Pogačar won the queen stage on Sunday and has hinted that he may not be prepared to just ride defensively for the final week of racing.
Will he triumph again today? Follow our updates and find out.
As always, get in touch via Twitter if you would like to join the conversation about today's stage - @thewlistt @cyclingweekly or reach me via email at - tom.thewlis@futurenet.com
General classification
Here's the overall standings going into today.
It's going to take something completely unexpected to topple Pogačar during this final week.
Take a look at how things stand in the rest of the classifications on our designated page.
1. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, in 56:11:46
2. Geraint Thomas (Gbr) Ineos Grenadiers, +6-41
3. Daniel Martinez (Col) Bora-Hansgrohe, +6-56
4. Ben O'Connor (Aus) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale, +7-43
5. Antonio Tiberi (Ita) bahrain Victorious, +9-27
6. Thymen Arensman (Ned) Ineos Grenadiers, +9-45
7. Romain Bardet (Fra) dsm-firmenich PostNL, +10-49
8. Filippo Zana (Ita) Jayco-AIUla, +11-11
9. Einer Rubio (Col) Movistar, +12-13
10. Jan Hirt (Cze) Soudal Quick-Step, +13-11
Riders vote to have Umbrail pass removed from course
News came through this morning that the entire Giro peloton was in unanimous agreement not to start stage 16 of the race unless the course is adjusted to remove the Umbrail Pass from the route.
Freezing weather conditions in the high mountains mean that snow and freezing rain are forecast on both the climb itself and subsequent descent.
According to a report from Cyclingnews, race organisers RCS Sport, the UCI commissaires, and team rider's association representatives met during Monday's rest day to discuss how to protect the riders without completely disrupting the race.
RCS initially said that the initial stage would go ahead as planned provided the weather doesn't get worse. However, it has been raining all night in Livigno meaning that they may be forced to make alternative arrangements, especially as all riders have now agreed not to start the stage unless the route is changed.
An open letter from the CPA riders union shared on social media said that the current route poses significant health risks to riders.
"The prior meeting's discussions do not align with EWP [Extreme Weather Protocol] guidelines under UCI regulation or the ethics of the sport, especially given the current forecast," the letter read. "Riders aim to compete and entertain, not to face a situation where they must stop at an altitude of 2,498 meters in a car park, change clothes in 2-degree weather with a high likelihood of snow, and then continue racing.
"Such conditions pose significant health risks, particularly during the descent of the Umbrail Pass. It is 2024; stopping and restarting races in such conditions is unacceptable. As one DS put it, 'this will be a shit show.'"
A final decision on the route is expected imminently.
CPA president Adam Hansen shared the letter sent to the organiser on his X account.
It's possible that riders will initially sign on in Livigno before being transported by cars and other vehicles to the other side of the Umbrail pass where the race will then continue.
Statement from the @cpacycling and the riders at the Giro. It was said many times before the vote that if they vote, they stick to their vote. It is very clear. I wonder now if there will be outside pressure. This was spoken about, even if teams or the organisers push the… pic.twitter.com/1L5u1euWxgMay 21, 2024
This is what the current route looks like for the stage.
Any sort of adjustment is expected to shorten the stage to about 120 kilometres today, and would significantly reduce the amount of climbing on offer from the initial 4,350 metres.
It looks absolutely horrible at sign on this morning. Riders are decked head to toe in warm weather gear.
👋 The team presentation has begun in Livigno, with the 🇫🇷 @GroupamaFDJ #GirodItalia pic.twitter.com/frN6fxZgQ1May 21, 2024
Here's the race leader, Tadej Pogačar, on today's uncertainty speaking to Eurosport:
"I don't know, I honestly don't know a lot about the situation. From what I can see it is really terrible weather. Already in our hotel, I see snowflakes at 1900m so to go 600 metres more up I think it is full snow so it's quite dangerous to go downhill," he said.
"It's shit to race in 0 degrees snow and rain but it would not be the first time for me or anybody to do it but when you have such long climbs you never know what happens.
"I'm not the one to decide but all the riders majority agreed to start after the Umbrail Pass and to shorten the stage to at least keep the finish."
Ben O'Connor had some pretty angry words to sum up his frustration at the situation.
"It's probably one of the worst organised races I think and I'm just being honest. This would never happen in 99% of other situations," he said to Eurosport.
"It's just a shame that it is 2024 and you have dinosaurs who really don't see the human side of things.
"I would still like to ride the stage but I don't want to ride over 2500m. It is already 5 degrees and pouring rain and at 2500 it is already snowing. I think it is only clear you should just start a touch lower and do the finish.
"I'd like to see him in our position, go outside on the bike and do the start of the stage and see what his answer is after those couple of hours."
It's supposed to be three minutes until the neutralised start but according to reports there is still no decision on this and the riders will not start the race.
Bora-Hansgrohe riders are riding back from sign on, the team buses have clearly left for the finish and riders are just left rolling around waiting to find out what's going on. It looks like chaos over there.
Fortunately the team's bus has come back for Max Schachmann now amongst others.
It seems like this is a constantly changing situation but the stage start has now been officially postponed to this afternoon.
Read our story from Adam Becket to find out more.
The stage is now expected to start in Spondigna at 14:00 CEST.
Here's a brief overview of the situation.
The race was due to get underway from Livigno this morning before heading up and over the Umbrail Pass into Switzerland. We now know that the riders obviously voted against that meaning that the organisers were forced to adjust the route so that it passes through the Munt la Schera tunnel instead.
RCS, the race organiser, along with the local authority in Livigno initially hoped that the riders would agree to ride short loops around the town before heading to the tunnel but that was scrapped after the riders did not want to get cold and wet before the ride to the new start location.
Eventually after a lot of frustration and confusion, riders signed on before leaving Livigno in team vehicles to head to the new start at Prato allo Stelvio where racing will begin at 14:00 local time (13:00 GMT).
The new route will be approximately 120 kilometres long to the finish atop Monte Pana.
As always, at least Geraint Thomas is able to see the funny side amidst the horrible weather haha!
Just like being home… 🏴🫣🤣#GirodItalia pic.twitter.com/E2W6KEie9hMay 21, 2024
We will be back in an hour for when the stage finally gets underway.
Welcome back.
Looks like we're finally getting underway for stage 16 of the Giro d'Italia at the new start after the drama of this morning.
The race ended up starting outside an Esso petrol station in what very much looked like the middle of nowhere.
The new route is now 118 kilometres.
116km to go: Israel-Premier Tech's Marco Frigo is thhe first rider to get up the road and attempt to make something happen.
101km to go: Frigo only has about 12 seconds now and will soon be back in the bunch.
In amongst all the chaos this morning, Bora-Hansgrohe announced that Danny van Poppel wouldn't start today due to illness.
❌ @Dannyvanpoppel has fallen ill, and will not carry on riding the #GirodItalia ❤️🩹 Speedy recovery Danny! https://t.co/nq1b0qUsoYMay 21, 2024
Frigo is still dangling out front and looks like a handful of riders are now trying to come across to him afterall.
91km to go: Juanpe López (Lidl-Trek) is one of the riders trying to get across to Frigo. Kevin Vermaeke (dsm) is also there.
89km to go: Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal Quick-Step) is also trying to make something happen along with Davide Ballerini (Astana Qazaqstan)
The move instigated by Lopez was completely swallowed up and now Alaphilippe's group are the one's animating the start.
Unbelivably Mirco Maestri (Polti-Kometa) is with Alaphilippe up the road. The two combined in an epic breakaway on stage 12 before the Frenchman went on to win.
77km to go: The quartet up the road are Alaphilippe, Maestri, Davide Ballerini and Andrea Piccolo (EF Education-EasyPost).
68km to go: Movistar are driving the pace on the front of the main field as they continue in pursuit of the break.
Nairo Quintana or Einer Rubio must be feeling particularly sharp.
It's now nearly two minutes for the leading four riders.
66km to go: Maestri is taking a big turn on the front of the breakaway here. Will Alaphilippe look to set him up to pay him back for his efforts the other day?
Alaphilippe has got his gloves off. He clearly means business again today.
45 km to go: We're about to hit the first intermediate sprint point of the day in Bolzano.
The breakaway didn't even fight for that. Ballerini rolled over first with the main objective simply being for the quartet to keep their momentum going.
40 km to go: 1:36 for the leaders but thats coming down quickly. I can't imagine that lasting for long once the climbing starts in this kind of weather.
We've had another rider abandon the race.
Julius van den Berg for dsm has climbed off.
❌ He fought his way to the top of Mottolino, but @JuliusJelmer had to call it a day, and he leaves the 2024 #GirodItalia ❤️🩹 Speedy recovery Julius!May 21, 2024
38 km to go: We've got three kilometres to the start of the Passo Pinei and its now just 1:22 for the leaders. It's really tumbling down now.
Here's Tadej Pogačar being looked after in the peloton.
It's worth remembering that before today's stage even began, the initial drama was that the iconic Stelvio pass was removed from the course due to risks of avalanches at the top.
The Stelvio is without a doubt one of the most famous mountains in cycling.
Bora-Hansgrohe are moving up at the front of the peloton as the leaders start the climb.
They now have just 50 seconds on the Bora led bunch. It won't be long before they're caught.
32km to go: Alaphilippe lifted the pace for a moment there and it seems to have really shattered the break.
The Frenchman has now gone solo in the rain. It's absolutely hammering down.
He only has a minute but it's jumping.
Alaphilippe still has no gloves on. His hands must be freezing in this rain.
Here's Geraint Thomas in the rain. It's getting even heavier out there.
28 km to go: Alaphilippe has nearly two mins on the peloton now. He's looking really good.
The rest of his former breakaway compatriots are languishing in between the Frenchman and the main field.
26 km to go: Ballerini is the only other man from the initial move left on the road behind Alaphilippe. The Astana man is 1:08 back from Alaphilippe with another group just behind him.
Polti-Kometa are getting involved again now.
Maestri was caught but attacked again and has taken his teammate Andrea Pietrobon with him. Filippo Fiorelli (VF Group–Bardiani–CSF–Faizanè) is also there.
Here's a clip of Alaphilippe's move from the break.
🇮🇹 Sadly for every cycling fan on this Earth, the bromance has stopped, and @mircomaestri9 is unable to follow @alafpolak1. ⚡ It's now a time-trial until the end for Julian #GirodItalia pic.twitter.com/WzahexLC1DMay 21, 2024
22km to go: Alaphilippe is really pushing hard here. We've seen the Frenchman shake out his legs a couple of times but he is showing no sign of relenting anytime soon.
He's got 1:30 back to Ballerini and Pietrobon. It's worth remembering that Ballerini is a sprinter by trade so he is going to struggle to come across with the Polti rider.
20 km to go: We've still got eight kilometres to go on the Pinnei. Ballerini has been swallowed up as a few moves have come from the peloton.
Movistar have been riding hard on the front of the bunch and have now sent former Giro stage winner Pelayo Sanchez on the attack.
Are they getting ready to tee up Quintana and Rubio?
Tobias Foss (Ineos Grenadiers) was with Sanchez briefly but has been dropped. The Spaniard is pushing on and could make up ground on Alaphilippe pretty quickly if he keeps going.
Looks like Jan Tratnik (Visma-Lease a Bike) is on the attack once again and trying to bridge across to Sanchez.
17 km to go: Alaphilippe has about another five kilometres left on this climb as the chasers take on a brief false flat section.
The Frenchman has hit a tough section of about 7% as he continues towards the summit. He has just over a minute on Sanchez.
Looks like Jefferson Cepeda is the EF rider who was briefly with Tratnik. They've just been caught by the Movistar led peloton as Nairo Quintana himself gets out of the saddle and rides.
Sanchez has clearly been sent up ahead as a satelite rider for someone to bridge across to.
Movistar's work is reducing Alaphilippe's gap fast.
15 km to go: That injection of pace from Movistar has shattered the GC group. They've got rid of Romain Bardet (dsm) as well as others.
Sanchez was briefly brought back into the main field but is going again.
Was that too early for Einer Rubio to do something for the Spanish team?
13km to go: Tadej Pogačar now has his arm and leg warmers off and looks like he means business. Is the Slovenian about to launch yet another explosive effort and take yet another stage win?
This doesn't bode well for Alaphilippe. He'll be caught by the next two riders on the road before the top of the climb, Cristian Scaroni (Astana Qazaqstan) and Pellizarri from Bardiani.
He's got 19 seconds on them and 39 on the GC group led by UAE Emirates.
Bardet (dsm-Firmenich PostNL) is having a terrible day. He's well behind the GC group and rapidly losing yet more time.
10 km to go: Tadej looks ready.
❌🧤 Short sleeves and no gloves?? In this weather??? How Tadej? Howwww? #GirodItalia pic.twitter.com/1CM1bBHXnwMay 21, 2024
Alaphilippe is on the descent of the Pinnei now. The roads are slick and horrible and there's small patches of standing water.
Fingers crossed everyone stays safe.
8 km to go: Domen Novak is leading the GC group down the descent for UAE. Pogačar is locked onto his wheel.
Alaphilippe has pushed his lead out to 45 seconds on the UAE group but that will soon disappear if Pogačar decides to attack.
Alaphilippe has begun the final climb now. He's got 47 seconds.
Can he do it? I'm not so sure this time.
Poor Alaphilippe! UAE are riding like they want to win the stage. Majka is leading the group and ramping up the pace for the race leader.
Meanwhile Scaroni, Pellizarri and Costiou (Arkea-Samsic) have swept up the Quick-Step rider.
2.7 km to go: Alaphilippe is gone. Scaroni, Pelizarri and Costiou could have a stage win on the cards unless UAE launch their man.
29 seconds for the trio of leaders as they approach the stage finale.
After that initial scare, it looks like Bardet is almost back with the GC group.
1.5 km to go: Meanwhile Ewen Costiou (Arkea) and Pelizarri have dropped Scaroni.
Ben O'Connor is struggling and here goes Pogačar. He's about to catch Scaroni.
He's now passed Costiou.
1.1 km to go: He's going to win again. He doesn't even look like he's trying today.
Pogačar is almost on Pelizzari's wheel. He's just got the Italian to catch but he almost certainly will.
He's passed the Italian now. Looks like Pelizarri is going to try and cling on for a bit.
He's about to cross the line. This is another superb win for Pogacar. He's counting them out on his fingers.
Pogačar wins! Pelizarri takes second.
We'll have the usual stage report for you shortly.
Here's our full stage report from another dramatic day at the Giro.
Join us again tomorrow for live coverage of stage 17.
