![Pogacar continues Giro dominance on day of rider protests](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/05/_2/740x404/pic_1716312167.jpg)
Pogacar Continues Giro Dominance On Day Of Rider Protests
Zeeshan Mehtab Published May 21, 2024 | 10:22 PM
![Pogacar continues Giro dominance on day of rider protests](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/05/_2/740x404/pic_1716312167.jpg)
Tadej Pogacar continued his dominance of the Giro d'Italia after pounding his way to victory in Tuesday's shortened 16th stage, which started three hours late after riders rebelled at demands they race through snow
Santa Cristina Val Gardena, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st May, 2024) Tadej Pogacar continued his dominance of the Giro d'Italia after pounding his way to victory in Tuesday's shortened 16th stage, which started three hours late after riders rebelled at demands they race through snow.
Slovenian cycling superstar Pogacar burst to the fifth stage win -- and second in a row -- of his first ever Giro to take another big step towards a third triumph at a Grand Tour.
The two-time Tour de France winner could have held his position in the peloton and still led the three-week race handsomely but he surged past Giulio Pellizzari in the final kilometre before holding five fingers aloft as he crossed the line.
Pogacar gave Pellizzari his overall leader's pink jersey as the pair embraced at the end of a tumultuous stage which was overshadowed by a revolt against race organisers RCS.
Riders were supposed to begin a 202-kilometre mountain stage between Livigno and Santa Cristina Val Gardena at 11:20am (0920 GMT) but plans were changed after hours of discussion, confusion and anger within the peloton and the race began at 2:30pm.
The stage was twice shortened and eventually began in Laas, 118km from the finish, due to the hazardous conditions after a rider revolt against organisers who pushed for a full day's racing.
"The day started really on and off and we didn't know what to do but once we started racing it was fine," said Pogacar.
"At first since yesterday was just thinking to be safe today... in the end it was good for us and also I think good for the people, good for everybody. I think we should be happy given the circumstances."
The day was certainly a good one for Pogacar as he leads Daniel Martinez by seven minutes and 18 seconds in the overall standings and also leads in the mountains classification after two straight summit victories.
However at one point it looked like the day's stage might not even begin as dreadful weather peppered the original start line in Livigno.
Shortly before noon in Italy, organisers RCS had said that riders were supposed to start a parade around snow-covered Livigno before heading to Prati allo Stelvio, 121km from the finish, where the stage proper would get underway at around 2:00pm.
- Weather chaos -
But there was no-one at the start line despite RCS's insistence on a start in Livigno, where local authorities had paid to have a Giro stage start in the ski resort.
"The riders are united on the issue," Adam Hansen, president of the riders' union, told broadcaster Eurosport, adding that they had voted unanimously to not participate in the stage as scheduled.
The start was then moved down to the valley and pushed back three hours so riders did not have to take the Giogo di Santa Maria pass, where the snow was falling heavily.
The peloton assembled in the shelter of a petrol station before setting off, swaddled in rain gear, for the shortened run.
Ben O'Connor, who is fourth in the overall standings, called the Giro "one of the worst organised races".
"This would never happen in 99 percent of other situations," Australian O'Connor told Eurosport.
"It's just a shame that it is 2024 and you have dinosaurs who really don't see the human side of things."
French climber Valentin Paret-Peintre said that the peloton would only ride the full stage if RCS's race chiefs "drive it in a convertible".
Two-time world champion Julian Alaphilippe, who went it alone with 30km remaining only to give up the ghost, joked that he would spend the day "making snowmen".
Difficult weather and sometimes bitter disputes about whether or not certain stages should take place are a regular feature of the Giro.
Organisers face further problems with their route before the Giro ends in Rome on Sunday.
There are mountain stages through the Alps and Dolomites scheduled for Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and more bad weather is forecast.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
![Cricket: England v West Indies 3rd Test scoreboard](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019914.jpg)
Cricket: England v West Indies 3rd Test scoreboard
![Finance minister briefs Chinese officials on refor ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019922.jpg)
Finance minister briefs Chinese officials on reform agenda, engagement with IMF
![Finland says Russian vessel violated its territori ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019912.jpg)
Finland says Russian vessel violated its territorial waters
![Olympic opening ceremony under way on River Seine](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019266.jpg)
Olympic opening ceremony under way on River Seine
![West Indies' treble strike rocks England in third ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019264.jpg)
West Indies' treble strike rocks England in third Test
![Ukraine court orders detention of suspect in murde ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019262.jpg)
Ukraine court orders detention of suspect in murder of nationalist ex-MP
![Long queues, ticketing problems ahead of Paris ope ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019015.jpg)
Long queues, ticketing problems ahead of Paris opening ceremony
![Rana Sanaullah Khan joins Paris 2024 Olympics inau ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019638.jpg)
Rana Sanaullah Khan joins Paris 2024 Olympics inauguration reception
![Glowing tributes mark 69th birthday of President Z ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019637.jpg)
Glowing tributes mark 69th birthday of President Zardari at Governor's House
![Players unaware of spying scandal as Canada Olympi ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019635.jpg)
Players unaware of spying scandal as Canada Olympic coach sent home: official
![Naqvi hails Pak women cricketers for going down fi ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019013.jpg)
Naqvi hails Pak women cricketers for going down fighting against SL
!['Sabotage' on French rail network before Olympics: ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019634.jpg)
'Sabotage' on French rail network before Olympics: What we know
More Stories From Sports
-
Cricket: England v West Indies 3rd Test scoreboard
7 hours ago -
West Indies' treble strike rocks England in third Test
7 hours ago -
Players unaware of spying scandal as Canada Olympic coach sent home: official
7 hours ago -
Naqvi hails Pak women cricketers for going down fighting against SL
7 hours ago -
Cricket: England v West Indies 3rd Test scoreboard
7 hours ago -
Holder and Da Silva keep England at bay after West Indies collapse
7 hours ago
-
Initial stage of National Women's Football Club C'ship concludes
10 hours ago -
Tennis: Kitzbuhel ATP results
11 hours ago -
Tennis: Kitzbuhel ATP results
11 hours ago -
Verstappen hit with 10-place grid penalty for Belgian GP
11 hours ago -
Zeeshan Ishfaq takes charge as UAF treasurer
11 hours ago -
Players unaware of spying scandal as Canada Olympic coach sent home: official
12 hours ago