SD Worx consider legal action after Wiebes disqualification from Giro d’Italia Women

Wiebes had won the first stage on Saturday and appeared set to continue the race in the leader’s jersey, but she was later disqualified after officials found that her bike was below the minimum weight limit. Under UCI regulations, bikes must weigh at least 6.8 kilograms.

SD Worx-Protime team manager Erwin Janssen strongly criticised the decision and said the team does not intend to leave the matter unchallenged. 

“It will be difficult, but we cannot just let this go,” Janssen told NOS. “It is ridiculous that Lorena has been taken out of the race. This causes us so much damage. We were aiming for three or four stage wins.”

According to Janssen, Wiebes had already used the same bike several times this season. He said the bike had always been built in the same way and had also been checked by UCI officials on previous occasions without any issue.

“It is sad,” Janssen said. “These are the bikes we always ride. We have never experienced anything like this before.”

Much of the team's frustration centres on the way the post-stage check was carried out. Janssen said the bike was weighed twice and that there was a difference of around 50 grams between the two measurements. According to him, the team later weighed the bike themselves after the finish and recorded a weight above 6.83 kilograms.

“How is that possible?” Janssen said. “The first measurement was 70 grams under the limit. If that weighing equipment has been taken up to altitude, it has to be recalibrated. We heard that did not happen. When we weighed the bike ourselves after the finish, indoors, without wind and with our own equipment, it was above 6.83 kilograms.”

Wiebes’ manager André Boskamp also reacted with disbelief, saying the situation was difficult to understand. He was particularly surprised that two scales were reportedly used during the inspection.

“This is bizarre, it can hardly be true,” Boskamp said on Dutch radio programme Langs de Lijn. “They found that the bike was slightly too light, but was that second scale correct? Lorena had really been building towards this race. It is a huge blow, for her and for the whole team.”

The UCI has so far shown no willingness to reverse the decision, according to Janssen. As a result, SD Worx-Protime are preparing to escalate the matter, potentially through legal channels.

“We will do everything we can, including legally,” Janssen said. “But they are unyielding. It will be their no against our yes. They will receive a letter. We will hold them liable for the damage suffered.”

Wiebes’ disqualification has major sporting consequences. She loses the stage win, the leader’s jersey and her place in the race. Elisa Balsamo, who initially finished second in Ravenna, has been promoted to stage winner and takes over the maglia rosa.

The Italian responded to the jury’s decision through her team, Lidl-Trek.

“Of course, this is not the way I would have wanted to win, but this is the decision of the jury,” Balsamo said. “In any case, it is an honour to wear the pink jersey and I am looking forward to defending it in the stage.”