An Extreme Weather Protocol Commission met yesterday to decide on the conditions for today’s Giro d’Italia stage 16.
A few minutes before today’s scheduled race start, weather conditions deteriorated further and so the commission decided to fall back on its ‘option 3’ – whereby, ‘In the event of extreme weather conditions, the stage will be neutralized up to a place where the safety conditions are met.’
Having met today, the race organising team has changed the original route. This had involved a climb to around 2500m, which was deemed too hazardous given heavy rain and snow conditions. Instead, the original race start in Livigno has switched to a parade in the town – and riders did not show up at the original start line in Livigno.
Avoiding the Umbrail Pass, today’s race start is in Lasa/Laas, at 14:25 CET, as per the race timetable. The stage 16 route has been shortened to around 120km and still includes the Passo Pinei and Passo di Santa Cristina climbs.
