SD Worx-Pro Time, Lorena Wiebes’ team that was kicked out of the Giro d’Italia on Saturday evening due to a bike that was too light, does not leave it there. Team boss Erwin Janssen is extremely angry and takes action against the ‘injustice’. The team wants to hold the UCI cycling union liable for the damage suffered. “We won’t leave it at that. This is really out of all proportion.”
Last night, with the help of the team’s lawyer, every effort was made to overturn the exclusion of Lorena Wiebes. In vain, because the international cycling union UCI was unrelenting. The Giro will continue, but without Wiebes, who had big plans for the Tour of Italy.
The best sprinter in the world won the first stage on Saturday with force majeure and thus also took the pink jersey. A few hours later, the stage victory was taken away and she was even completely excluded from further participation. According to the UCI, her bicycle was 20 grams too light. Bicycles may not be lighter than 6.8 kilos.
That decision hit the team hard. Erwin Janssen, the boss of the Dutch team, is extremely displeased with the turn of events. “The surprising thing is that two measurements were taken with different results. There was still 50 grams in between.”
“What conclusions can you draw? Moreover, measurements were taken in a tent where there was a lot of wind. That also affects proper inspection. Our own measurements show that the bicycle is not lighter than 6.8 kilos at all. All very debatable. While the consequences are enormous.”
Janssen continues: “We will not leave it at that. This is really out of proportion. A letter will be sent to the UCI today in which we will hold them liable for the damage. Due to this tough decision, we will miss many UCI points and also a lot of media attention. We had the holy belief that Lorena could win three or four stages here.”
Janssen spoke at length with Wiebes on Saturday evening, who was very upset by the issue. “This is so hard for a top athlete. She can’t do anything about it herself. She did everything she could to start this Giro in top form. That form was there and then you get this. First the party because we took the pink jersey. Now there is a grave atmosphere.”
She sprinted with a full water bottle in her bike. I just want to say: her superior power is enormous.
Wiebes has already won several races this season on exactly the same bike. “The bicycle was also checked and there was nothing wrong. With all due respect: Lorena wins this sprint, and often other times, with a difference of three bicycle lengths. Number two Elisa Balsamo was not even in the photo. Why would we need a bicycle that is 20 grams lighter? We have no interest in that at all.”
Janssen continues: “She sprinted with a full water bottle in her bike. I just want to say: her superiority is enormous. I really understand that there are rules. We also want to adhere to them. But this is unfair. It is also remarkable that the bike was checked not before, but after the finish. Then we could have done something about it if it turned out that the bike was not in order.”
In any case: SD Worx-Pro Time has to continue without one of the leading women in this Giro. With Anna van der Breggen, the team has an iron in the fire for the final classification.
But for now grumpiness prevails. “If we had lost the stage win, that would also have been a disappointment. But then we would have had new opportunities this week. Complete exclusion is an exorbitantly high punishment. The UCI should take a look at the reasonableness in this case.”
Cycling calendar 2026
• On these days are the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and other major races
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