Wiebes disqualified after apparent Giro Women stage 1 victory

The SD Worx-Protime sprinter had crossed the line first after a fast and nervous stage through Emilia Romagna, beating Elisa Balsamo and Lara Gillespie in the bunch sprint. Wiebes appeared to have secured both the stage win and the first maglia rosa of the race, underlining her status as one of the standout favourites on the flat roads.

However, the result was later revised after post race checks found that Wiebes’ bike did not meet UCI regulations. Race officials ruled that the bike was below the required minimum weight, leading to her disqualification from the stage and removal from the race.

As a result, Balsamo was promoted to stage winner and became the first overall leader of the 2026 Giro d’Italia Women. Gillespie moved up to second on the stage, while the rest of the top finishers also gained a place in the revised results.

The opening stage had already been marked by early drama, with Cat Ferguson forced to abandon after crashing in the first kilometres of her Giro debut. The Movistar rider was taken to hospital for further medical checks, while several other riders were delayed by crashes or mechanical problems during a tense first day.

The race continues on Sunday with another flat stage, but Wiebes will not be on the start line after what had first looked like a dream opening day turned into a major setback for the Dutch champion and SD Worx-Protime.