Jasper Stuyven and the Giro organisation clash over stage 2 restart — 'like a scared dog'

Several riders have spoken out critically after stage 2 of the Giro d'Italia, with the race organisation coming under fire for the way it handled the restart following a devastating crash in the peloton. The stage was eventually resumed just before the bonus sprint — but how that decision was communicated was far from clear to everyone involved.

The crash occurred in the finale, on a wet right-hand bend. UAE Team Emirates-XRG were particularly badly hit, with Jay Vine and Marc Soler both abandoning and a heavily battered Adam Yates managing to continue. Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious), Aleksandr Vlasov (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) and Ådne Holter (Uno-X Mobility) also abandoned.

The rest of the peloton was able to continue — but not before the chaos had settled. Eventually the race director gave the green light, just a few kilometres before the intermediate bonus sprint. Egan Bernal and Thymen Arensman snapped up a handful of seconds there, catching other riders off guard with the sudden, unexpected restart signal.

Giulio Ciccone spoke for Lidl-Trek, calling it "a strange finale — first we stopped, then it wasn't clear whether we were racing again. And then suddenly there was that incredibly explosive climb." He added critically: "The roads were filthy — there was mud everywhere."

Jasper Stuyven was equally unhappy about how stage 2 unfolded. The Soudal Quick-Step Belgian let rip at the race director in an interview with Belgian outlet HLN. "There were no ambulances left on course, but there was still a descent ahead that could have been dangerous. After a crash like that, we wanted a neutralisation of the GC times."

The Giro refused that request. "The brave ones could still race for the stage win — but on that next descent, there was no need for anyone to take unnecessary risks. The race director said they were looking at it. Then, like a scared dog, he stuck his head out of the car, started waving his flag and shouted 'race' — before quickly pulling his head back inside."

In Saturday evening's daily jury report, the Giro organisation issued a response to the controversy surrounding the neutralisation and, in particular, the restart. "The race was neutralised for 4 kilometres after around 30 riders had crashed, in order to allow the doctors and ambulances to reach the fallen riders."

The key detail follows: "The stage was restarted once the medical service confirmed that two doctor's cars and two ambulances had returned to the race."