Not long after they’d had a warm shower and changed out of their drenched cycling clothes, many of the riders from Paris-Nice took to Twitter to talk about the stage’s cancellation.
Organisers decided to cut stage three short, cancelling it completely just before the 100km mark because of snow and freezing temperatures on the course.
Many interested observers questioned whether the UCI’s Extreme Weather Protocol should be called into action, but few knew exactly what could be done mid-race.
Andre Greipel was one to question why the riders were allowed to start the race when there was already snow at the feed point.
A shame with all the technology we have nobody can make a decision be4 the stage as our team knew that there will be snow at the feeding
— Andre Greipel (@AndreGreipel) March 9, 2016
Greipel’s fellow German Marcel Kittel had a pretty disgusting way of keeping warm out on the road.
What an epic, EPIC, EEEEPIC day in Paris-Nice!!!1!! OR maybe just a ridiculous cold one with rain, snow, wind & bibshorts full of warm pee.
— Marcel Kittel (@marcelkittel) March 9, 2016
Luke Rowe shared Greipel’s thoughts about the knowledge of the weather conditions before the stage.
Stage at Paris Nice cancelled. Just confused as why it took so long for them to make that decision, we knew all day it was snowing up there!
— Luke Rowe (@LukeRowe1990) March 9, 2016
He and Ian Boswell took refuge in sport director Gabriel Rasch’s car when the stage was abandoned.
That was the right choice. https://t.co/mY1HMvFlFO
— Ian Boswell (@theboz91) March 9, 2016
Geraint Thomas explained just why the stage was cancelled – the safety of the riders was more important than completing the stage.
Huge shame that the stage was cancelled today. But there's no way we can race safely through this! pic.twitter.com/bso1TWnbKN
— Geraint Thomas (@GeraintThomas86) March 9, 2016
IAM Cycling’s Dries Devenyns made the best joke of the day about a Spanish cyclist and an Italian skiier.
For a long time A.S.O. was hoping Alberto Contador would change into Alberto Tomba on top of that climb. And the bunch would follow.
— Dries Devenyns (@3sdevenyns) March 9, 2016
He’s not racing there, but Joaquim Rodriguez is a fan of the organiser’s decision
Some social media users are calling the riders ‘soft’ for not continuing in such conditions, but Cannondale boss Jonathan Vaughters insists the riders can handle such conditions – the bikes can’t though.
The riders are plenty tough enough to handle the snow. Not an issue. Issue is the bikes don't have snow tires for the descents.
— Jonathan Vaughters (@Vaughters) March 9, 2016
