Wiebes Disqualification Spurs Debate on Giro d'Italia Women Bike-Weight Checks

Lorena Wiebes was disqualified on stage 1 of the Giro d'Italia Women for a bicycle that reportedly did not meet the 6.8 kg minimum weight (measured at 6.78 kg), leading to her expulsion and the stage win going to Elisa Balsamo. SD Worx-Protime said they are astonished and have serious questions about the bike-weighing procedures after a more than 50 g discrepancy between the first and second weighings, noting that Wiebes’ typical S-Works Tarmac SL8 has passed earlier weigh-ins. The sanction carried a CHF 500 fine to the team’s sports director, Danny Stam.