'Like a frightened dog' – Jasper Stuyven criticises Giro d'Italia director following handling of stage 2 neutralisation

Jasper Stuyven of Soudal-QuickStep has openly criticised the Giro d’Italia race director Marco Velo following the handling of a major crash during stage 2. The incident, which occurred 22 kilometres from the finish in Veliko Tarnovo, led to a mass pileup and a temporary neutralisation of the race. However, the race was restarted quickly with no neutralisation of general classification (GC) times in the final kilometres, a decision Stuyven described as reckless, likening Velo’s behaviour to that of a “frightened dog” due to the abrupt resumption of racing despite ongoing safety concerns. The crash forced race medics and ambulances to attend to injured riders for several minutes, with the neutralisation lasting around four kilometres. Despite this, the race resumed with 18 kilometres remaining, including a challenging climb and a technical descent that many felt should have been neutralised to prevent further risk. Stuyven and other riders, including Jonas Vingegaard, Jonathan Milan, and Filippo Ganna, requested a neutralisation of GC times to allow for a safer conclusion to the stage. Stuyven emphasised that while the stage win could still be contested, the priority should have been rider safety on the perilous descent. In response to the criticism, Velo’s decision to restart the race swiftly was seen as dismissive by the peloton. Stuyven recounted how the race director briefly appeared from his car to signal the restart before quickly withdrawing, a moment that symbolised the riders’ frustration. Fortunately, no further incidents occurred in the final kilometres, with the stage won by Guillermo Thomas Silva in a reduced group sprint. Vingegaard, who attacked on the final climb, admitted his move was partly motivated by safety concerns, aiming to avoid the dangers posed by the descent. The aftermath of the crash has already impacted the race, with six riders forced to abandon, including UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s Marc Soler, Jay Vine, and Adam Yates, alongside Ådne Holter, Santiago Buitrago, and Andrea Vendrame. The Giro d’Italia continues with stage 3 heading to Sofia, Bulgaria, as the race grapples with the balance between competition and rider safety. The incident has sparked debate about race management and the protocols for handling crashes in high-stakes events like the Giro.