Today's stage 13 of Giro d'Italia has been cut for a second time and now the riders will race for just 75km, though that involves a mountain from the start, a descent and then the another mountain to the summit finish at Crans-Montana.
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The first mountain, San Gran Bernado, had already been cut from the route in recent days due to snow, and the riders were set to be re-routed through the tunnel in the mountain. That meant while the climb was gone, the long first section of the stage remained in the route.
But now the stage has been cut short and it will start at the base of the Croix de Coeur, which was to be the second climb of the day on the original route. There follows the descent of that climb before the riders start the Crans Montana ascent for the summit finish.
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Bizarrely, the race organisers still asked the riders to start the stage in the original starting town Sembrancher and ride the neutralised zone to KM 0 so the fans could see them and the start town could get some return for their investment in the race.
Once they reached KM 0 they were set to turn around and get back into their vehicles for the drive to Le Chable, at the bottom of the Croix de Couer, for the start of the stage.
"Given the adverse weather conditions, especially on the Italian side, the Commission decided to meet the athletes' requests by applying the Extreme Weather Protocol," the Giro said in a statement. "Stage 13 will be shortened with the new km 0 being set at Le Chable, at the bottom of the Croix de Couer. The final part of the stage remains unchanged."
