Giro d'Italia scraps downhill rider category after safety criticism
Last updated on .From the section Cycling

Giro d'Italia organisers have abandoned plans for a best downhill rider category after criticism from riders that the idea was "life-threatening".
The plans would have seen riders timed on 10 downhill sections during the three-week race, with prizes for each day and the overall fastest descender.
Belgian rider Wouter Weylandt died after crashing on a descent during stage three of the 2011 Giro d'Italia.
The 100th edition of the race begins on Friday.
"The spirit of the initiative was to highlight an important skill which is an integral part of a cycle race, without putting the riders' safety in jeopardy," said organisers RCS Sport in a statement on Wednesday.
"Rider safety is, and remains, the priority of the Giro and the race organisers."
After the initial plans were released, Dutch Team Sky rider Woet Poels tweeted that it was a "life-threatening idea", adding: "What about safety?"
Trek-Segafredo's Belgian cyclist Jasper Stuyven said organisers "should be ashamed" and that "riders will take even more risks" causing "more danger to other riders in the bunch".
RCS Sport said that reaction to the proposals suggested the classification, which was to be sponsored by tyre manufacturer Pirelli, "could be potentially misunderstood".
They added that they had therefore "decided to eliminate all such classification and prize money" but make data of descent speeds available to fans.
The Association of Professional Cyclists said it was "very happy" RCS had come to "a solution for the good of the riders".
The Giro is one of three three-week Grand Tours during the cycling season, together with the Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana.
Comments
Join the conversation
Otherwise, should be a cracking Giro. Usually tougher than the Tour.
36 minutes ago
this isn't sport - move it to hobbies and past times please
I'd like to see you take part in 250km race where 10% or more would be uphill, sometimes kilometre after kilometre, all uphill.
You'd get off your bike as soon as you looked at some of these hills, then you'd be on your phone to your mummy asking her to pick you up !
Btw beeb the cycling season started 2 months ago and has been great so far. Pity your only bothered about negative stories.
As for the Giro I will be cheering on GT all the way.
Thanks to Scarponi.
The Giro is the best of the Grand Tours in my opinion, and doesn't need any gimmicks.
The Giro is worthy of more well thought out ideas than this.
"Firstly I haven't been in competitive cycling.."
You didn't need to add anything else.
Maybe you should move house...it seems you are stressed....try yoga.
Should be a cracking Giro...the mountain stages are epic....tougher that the Tour...go GT...!!