Giro d'Italia 2023: Bizarre scenes as riders stop to board buses after surreal start in heavy rain

A very strange situation unfolded at the start of Stage 13 of the Giro d'Italia on Friday as the riders got soaked starting out at Borgofranco d’Ivrea before they came to an abrupt stop and jumped on their team buses. In what essentially amounted to a ceremonial procession, the riders made their scheduled departure at the start of the planned stage route, but it was just a temporary jaunt — and a very wet one at that — as they cruised over to a giant car park where the team buses awaited.

Ad Following discussions with the riders, the Giro organisers elected to shorten the route — but not until they had rolled out from Borgofranco d’Ivrea as promised and rode a surreal 200 metres before they made their drenched return to the team buses. Giro d'Italia'It's a good decision' — Thomas explains riders' views on weather-shortened Stage 132 HOURS AGO After meetings had been held, the tweaked route abbreviated the stage but did at least retain the two significant climbs of the Croix de Coeur and summit finish at Crans Montana to leave what should still be an intriguing and explosive day's racing.

An official statement from the organisers read: «Given the adverse weather conditions, especially on the Italian side, the commission decided to meet the athletes' requests by applying the Extreme Weather Protocol. »Stage 13 will be shortened with the new KM 0 being set at Le Chable, at the bottom of the Croix de Coeur.

The final part of the stage remains unchanged. The race will follow the original timetable." What all of that meant was a very wet ride over to the buses.

The riders will reportedly then make a visit to a nearby sports hall where turbo trainers, and hopefully radiators, await them. Stage 13 live — Stage dramatically