Mauro Vegni 'still angry about what happened last year' at Giro d'Italia as stage 16 altered 'to avoid any problems with riders'
Many riders seemed keen to tackle the whole 212km despite the threat of extreme weather but safety has been put first with two climbs cut from the queen stage
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Giro d'Italia race director Mauro Vegni says the alteration of stage 16 was a decision made by all parties, one taken proactively to avoid any problems with riders if the weather worsened further, adding it's difficult to stop a race once it's started.
The queen stage has had two of its climbs taken out as extreme weather made the cima coppi of this year's race potentially treacherous, those mountains bypassed in favour of heading straight to the Passo Giau.
"What we really wanted to do here was not just go out and ride along, we wanted to have a proper race so we took the decision to take those two climbs out and try to avoid any sort of problems with riders, and I think we wanted to make a proper race today," Vegni told GCN before the delayed start, adding he thinks there was a chance to complete the stage as originally intended.
"It’s a bit different from the past, we’ve had the time to talk about, talk with the organisers. In my opinion, there was a chance to do the entire stage but of course with the weather conditions we’ve taken two climbs out and we have a real race.
>>> Giro d'Italia stage 16 shortened and climbs taken out due to extreme weather
"Hopefully, we’ve made everyone happy with that decision. It’s difficult to stop the race once it’s started. It’s very different from what happened last year when we discovered everything at the start. This year we’d already talked about this and discussed it."
Last year the Giro descended into chaos after riders refused to ride the long stage 18, Vegni apoplectic after the peloton went on strike until the 258km stage was reduced to 130km.
"I didn’t hear any riders here [this time] because we actually took the decision ourselves and we had a chat with the riders’ representatives and there wasn’t any sort of protest, that’s the sort of thing we wanted to avoid," Vegni explained.
"Either we don’t do the stage or we need to do something different. Either you can ride for the descents or you can get cold, or you can just do the last climb and that one descent, I think it’s totally doable, this is cycling. This was a decision that was taken by everybody."
It seems the events of last year still rankles the Italian, who says his decision on stage 16 was in order to respect both the race and the fans.
"I’m still angry, really, about what happened last year. It wasn’t respectful towards the race. All the people who went to watch cycling. So this year we’ve taken the decision to try and respect the fans, for the fans that want to see the Giro on the road," Vegni said.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
-
Nairo Quintana disqualified from Tour de France after twice testing positive for tramadol
The Colombian will still race at the Vuelta a España because it is not considered a doping violation
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
We took nine cheap road tyres to a rolling resistance testing facility and this is how they stacked up
Here nine budget tyres are through their paces - including a trip to Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub to test their rolling resistance
By Luke Friend • Published
-
Egan Bernal takes next step of his comeback at altitude training camp in Andorra
The Tour de France and Giro d’Italia winner on the road to recovery after horror crash in January
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Simon Yates misses out on Tour de France selection
Team BikeExchange-Jayco opt for sprint focussed line-up focused on Dylan Groenewegen
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
'It still feels like a dream' — Jai Hindley reflects on historic Giro d'Italia victory
Jai Hindley reflects on a life-changing Giro win, what it means for his Bora-Hansgrohe team, and Australia as a whole
By Adam Becket • Published
-
The winners and losers: Rating the teams of the Giro d'Italia
13 teams won stages, but multiple squads went home from Italy empty handed
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'An incredible feeling' — Jai Hindley becomes the first Australian to win the Giro d'Italia
Western Australian also wins Bora-Hansgrohe's first Grand Tour
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Hindley triumphs and goodbye to Nibali: Five talking points from stage 21 of the Giro d'Italia 2022
Matteo Sobrero was victorious in Verona
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Giro d'Italia 2022 standings: Final results from the 105th edition after stage 21
Full classifications after three weeks of racing
By Adam Becket • Published
-