'It has been mayhem' - CPA chief Adam Hansen defends riders for taking action at Giro d'Italia

Cyclistes Professionnels Associes (CPA) president Adam Hansen has branded the Giro d’Italia “mayhem”, calling the wet and cold Stage 10 “a disaster” and praising riders for taking a stance to force the shortening of Stage 13. Rider power has come to the fore at the opening Grand Tour of 2023, with the peloton uniting to get Friday’s 199km route shortened to just 75km. The collective action came days after the riders failed to get Tuesday’s Stage 10 amended despite miserable conditions and sweeping sickness.

Ad The peloton has been decimated in Italy, in part due to wretched weather, as Covid and illness have affected a number of riders. With many suffering ahead of Stage 10 after the first rest day, they voted as a majority to get the stage shortened amid reports of freezing temperatures and gales atop the day’s highest point. The request was denied.

Giro d'ItaliaThomas delivers brutal put down to former riders after criticism over Stage 13 alteration3 HOURS AGO Nine riders pulled out after the first rest day – including pre-race favourite Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) due to Covid – while four more abandoned during Stage 10 and another eight failed to start the following day. CPA president Hansen, who represents the riders to get their collective voice heard, opened up about a difficult week at the Giro on The Breakaway ahead of Saturday's Stage 14. «This year's Giro has just been mayhem with the weather so it's good that the riders took a stance.

And it was collective,» said Hansen. «On Stage 10, we tried to do something for the riders and we couldn't. That was really the breaking point for the riders.» He added: “Stage 10 was a disaster in my opinion.