Giro d’Italia NextGen, 24 riders get towed on the Stelvio by cars and motorcycles: disqualified

If this is the next generation of the cycling we are in very bad shape. What happened on Wednesday in the fourth stage of the Giro d’Italia Next Gen, the most important Italian stage race reserved for young people, organized this season by RCS Sport, is incredible. There Morbegno-Stelvio Pass, with an unprecedented finish at the top of the historic Valtellina climb, recorded an avalanche of disqualifications. As many as 24 runners of various nationalities (17 Italians) completed the race towed by motorized vehicles: four flagships, but also the motorbikes of the traffic police. All to attempt – successfully – to return to the maximum time, raised by the jury to 38 minutes, in a stage that is certainly tough, but of just 119 kilometres.

The scenes have been around the web: some flagships, like that of Sissi Team, were surrounded by runners, blatantly, without any fear of disqualification, in tow. However, at first, the jury had taken no action. Around 11pm on Wednesday, however, the press release was released which led to the mass disqualification and removal from the race of four sporting directors. Between the jury’s first and second press release, a video shot on the last ramps of the Stelvio had popped up showing what had happened. Marco Toffali, sports director of the Sissio Team, tries to explain: “You know, these things happen. But other videos and photos will come out, there were many more riders involved”. The Norwegian is in the pink jersey Staune-Mittet, arrived on his own legs and in front of everyone on the Stelvio. The best Italian in the standings is Alessio Martinelli, 4th. At the end of the race there are 4 stages left.