'They bring cycling into disrepute' – Lorena Wiebes' agent blasts Giro disqualification as rider stays silent apart from brief Instagram post

Lorena Wiebes has been disqualified from the Giro d’Italia Women over a reported bike weight discrepancy, sparking significant controversy within the cycling community. The SD Worx-Protime rider’s bike was found to be approximately 20 grams under the UCI’s minimum weight limit of 6.8kg, leading to her expulsion from the race. While Wiebes herself has remained largely silent on the issue, sharing only a brief Instagram post with the phrase “the show must go on,” her agent André Boskamp has vocally criticised the decision, describing it as damaging to the sport’s credibility. Boskamp highlighted the inconsistencies in the bike weighing process, noting that the scales were handled clumsily and produced varying results during multiple checks. He also defended Wiebes by pointing out that she had used the same bike in previous races, including the Vuelta a Burgos where she secured two stage wins, without any problems. The agent dismissed suggestions that a change to a single chainring setup might explain the weight issue, calling such claims “nonsense.” He further criticised the timing of the disqualification, which came late in the evening, leaving no opportunity for the team to engage with the UCI before the decision was finalised. The reaction from Wiebes’ team and supporters has been one of frustration and disbelief. The bike manufacturer Specialized publicly backed Wiebes, emphasising that the 20-gram difference did not affect the outcome of the sprint she won. Her former teammate Demi Vollering and others in the cycling community have also expressed support. Meanwhile, SD Worx-Protime have indicated they are considering legal action in response to the ruling, although they have not issued a further public statement since expressing their astonishment immediately after the decision. Wiebes has returned home to the Netherlands and is currently taking time away from competition to process the situation, with her agent describing her as “a complete mess” following the disqualification. She is expected to remain silent on the matter until she resumes racing, with her next event scheduled to be the Copenhagen Sprint on 13 June. In her absence, the Giro d’Italia Women’s sprint stages have been won by Elisa Balsamo, underscoring the impact of Wiebes’ sudden exit on the race dynamics. The incident has reignited debate over the strictness and fairness of UCI equipment regulations and their enforcement in women’s cycling.