As it happened: GC favourites battle out stage 16 summit finish in brutal weather

Buongiorno and welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of stage 16 of the 2024 Giro d'Italia!

We're only a few hours into the morning and the Giro has been thrown into chaos as teams have unanimously agreed not to participate in Tuesday's stage 16 of the Giro d'Italia unless the course is changed to remove the Umbrail Pass.

Our own Stephen Farrand snapped a picture of the adverse weather conditions from Livigno where teams were set to sign on at the start of Stage 16.
Whether the stage will continue as planned is still uncertain, but if changes are afoot organisers will be racing to work out a solution to transporting the riders to a position where they could safely begin.

Stage 16 was set to feature the Cima Coppi in light of the removal of the Stelvio pass but the new highest peak - Umbrail Pass - is proving just as treacherous as the Stelvio may have been.

There are reports that the decision has already been made to remove the pass, but now RCS must decide how to transport riders to the other side of the pass.

However, elsewhere there are reports that the decision is still yet to be made.

It is still a miserable situation in Livigno and the confusion is still widespread for the peloton. 

Riders appear to standing around in the wet and cold at the start location without any clarity. The Neutralised start in Livigno was scheduled to be in 2 minutes time so that is looking heavily unlikely now. 

Race leader Tadej Pogačar's confusion sums up this very strange Giro d'Italia morning:

"I don't know, I honestly don't know a lot about the situation. From what I can see it is really terrible weather. Already in our hotel, I see snowflakes at 1900m so to go 600 metres more up I think it is full snow so it's quite dangerous to go downhill," he told Eurosport before the stage.

"It's shit to race in 0 degrees snow and rain but it would not be the first time for me or anybody to do it but when you have such long climbs you never know what happens.

"I'm not the one to decide but all the riders majority agreed to start after the Umbrail Pass and to shorten the stage to at least keep the finish."

Here's a look at some of the horrid weather along the route from CN's head of news Stephen Farrand en route to the finish of stage 16.

Slightly less diplomatic but likely the correct words from fourth place Ben O'Connor at the start of the day:

"It's probably one of the worst organised races I think and I'm just being honest. This would never happen in 99% of other situations," he told Eurosport.

"It's just a shame that it is 2024 and you have dinosaurs who really don't see the human side of things.

"I would still like to ride the stage but I don't want to ride over 2500m. It is already 5 degrees and pouring rain and at 2500 it is already snowing. I think it is only clear you should just start a touch lower and do the finish.

"I'd like to see him in our position, go outside on the bike and do the start of the stage and see what his answer is after those couple of hours."

There did seem have been a decision made with a neutralised start from Livigno as planned before riding through the Munt la Schera Tunnel into Switzerland and getting back into the team buses.

From here the teams would travel to Prati allo Stelvio and start from there.

However, some riders were on the start line for the postponed start time but without the full contingent so headed back to their team buses. Complete confusion in Livigno without anything concrete yet. 

Planned start of the stage is now expected to take place from Spondigna at 14:00 CEST. But who can be sure after such a confusing morning.

OK, some information from our team on the ground - the riders are going to do the neutralised section all in cars instead of riding to the tunnel.

Here's some earlier words from Giro d'Italia director Mauro Vegni to RAI:

"The mountains are like this, sometimes you have to face certain situations. Our decision certainly hasn’t been an improvised one, it was foreseen by the protocol established yesterday," he said. 

"We tried to provide additional safety measures for the riders but we agreed that if the conditions worsened we would have avoided the Umbrail Pass. And that’s what happened, it would have been stupid to take on certain risks, especially on the descent. 

"Obviously if you ask the riders if they like riding in rain and snow, they’ll say no. Everybody has his point of view and that’s normal. For our part, we hope they are satisfied because we went through this entire discussion.”

A look at just how tough the conditions were going to be on the Umbrail Pass as captured by one of the photographers at the Giro. 

Race leader Tadej Pogačar and his UAE teammates tried to make light of the messy situation at the start. They were in the popular ski resort Livigno after all. 

Full news story on the chaos that descended this morning at the Giro:

Snow, rain, rider protests and confusion end with Umbrail Pass removed from Giro d'Italia stage 16

Amid all the chaos of the morning, there have been two DNSs after the second rest day:

- Jenthe Biermans (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) - due to horror crash on stage 15
- Danny van Poppel (Bora-Hansgrohe) - due to sickness

Would read up on Biermans if you missed the story as it is quite an incredible feat that he thankfully wasn't too badly injured despite crashing into a ravine.

'I was 25 meters deep in a ravine' - Jenthe Biermans completes Giro Queen Stage despite incredible fall

We're around 45 minutes from the new proposed start of stage 16.

Update from that last post: there's been a change of start location just down the road from Spondigna to Lasa with the start time moved to 14:15 with the flag drog expected at 14:30 CEST (13:30 BST).

With some time left until the postponed start, make sure to read this harrowing update on Lizzy Banks' life and career after she endured a tiresome battle to clear her name from a positive doping test.

Lizzy Banks reveals positive doping test and nine-month battle to clear her name

Here's how the Giro saw the total palaver that unfolded this morning:

"A few minutes before the start, the weather conditions deteriorated further and so the Commission decided to fall back on Option 3 - In the event of extreme weather conditions, the stage will be neutralized up to a place where the safety conditions are met," read an updated statement.

"On today's meeting, an agreement was reached on moving the race from Livigno with a town parade. Despite a handshake between the parties, the athletes did not show up at the start in Livigno."

This confirms that the riders made the decision to get back onto the team buses and cars to head to the new start location, despite the organiser's desire to roll out of Livigno as planned. 

A reminder that today's stage is the start of the final week of the Giro d'Italia with Pogačar sitting 6:41 ahead of Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) in second. Catch up with his updates from the rest day below:

‘I need to finish with high morale then chill out’ – Tadej Pogačar’s thoughts turning towards Giro-Tour double

The revised route for today's stage:

Just over 20 minutes to go now until the new start in Lasa.

Riders will be getting wrapped up and ready for the restart now with a stage still to content with despite the strange morning. It will only be 120km now and without a dangerous 20km descent to start the day but it will still be far from an easy stage. 

More honest words from the peloton as Luke Plapp similarly hits out against organisers as Ben O'Connor had done earlier: 

“To be honest, the race organisation is a bit of a joke. We spoke up as a rider union and we were all together in our vote but they didn't want to listen. It was a week ago or four days ago where we brought up the weather and they didn’t want to speak to us them or take on board any consideration," Plapp told Eurosport. 

"It's really frustrating as riders like we want to work with them. We actually said 3 days ago that this is where we should start and race but they told us no. And it is only now that all this has finally happened that they listen to us. We’re here now and that’s good but the way we got here and how it's all unfolded is not good enough. 

“I think the way the situation was handled yesterday and all morning is quite frustrating and it's hard for riders to really comprehend how they consider what our safety is because I definitely don’t think our safety has been taken into consideration today."

Riders are on the line with a possible start incoming from Lasa but there have been murmurings of a possible protest. 

After a dramatic morning, stage 16 of the Giro d'Italia is finally underway. We'll be neutral behind the lead race car for now with the flag drop still to come. 

Official race distance for the day is 118.4km as the Giro resumed after the second race day. 

118.4KM TO GO

Official start taken! Here we go on stage 16 of the Giro d'Italia. There are attacks from the flag through the likes of Marco Frigo (Israel-Premier Tech).

More counter attacks are coming with blue jersey wearer Simon Geschke (Cofidis) involved. 

110KM TO GO

Speed at the start of the race have been upwards of 70kph in the rain as we head east. 

Frigo is still going well out on his own but has an advantage of only eight seconds for now.

100KM TO GO

Stage 5 winner Benajmin Thomas (Cofidis) is the next rider to abandon the race in the horrid conditions.

Here's the lone leader Frigo on his brave effort out in front. He's no stranger to a Giro breakaway but he's yet to be joined as the attacks continue behind him in the peloton. 

Juanpe López (Lidl-Trek) and Kevin Vermaerke (DSM-Firmenich PostNL) are among the riders in the counter attack which has just caught Frigo. Davide Ballerini (Astana Qazaqstan) also present. 

They only have a slim advantage now with the peloton riding at a strong pace behind. It is Movistar on the front as they are unhappy with the configuration. 

90KM TO GO

That first attack was reeled back in just as the next waves go after the race headed through a tunnel. Ballerini again on the move with Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal Quick-Step) again on the attack. 

Alaphilippe is with his breakaway companion from stage 12, Mirco Maestri (Polti-Kometa), after the two combined brilliantly as a duo and the Frenchman took a memorable victory.

Alaphilippe's gratitude for the Italian's cooperation in their 125km move led to great images of the pair after the stage and the two-time World Champion gifting Maestri a  jersey later in the week.

80KM TO GO

The gap to the four in front has gone out despite Movistar still chasing as they were earlier in the break formation. Reminder that it is Ballerini, Alaphilippe, Maestri and Andrea Piccolo (EF Education EasyPost) out in front. 

Sprinter Fernando Gaviria is the man put to work for Movistar on the front, keeping the gap at just 1:41 from the leaders now. 

A rider as recognisable in a rain jacket as any thanks to his style on the bike and facial hair. Here's Alaphilippe launching his move into the day's breakaway. 

70KM TO GO

We're in Tour of the Alps territory for the moment in the Sud Tyrol region of Italy which of course has two languages for most of the locations in German and Italian due to its history as a former part of Austria-Hungary until 1919. 

The weather is marginally improving temperature wise but the dreadful rainy conditions means it is going to be a brutally long day in the saddle for those in the peloton.

Movistar are still leading the peloton as the race heads fully into the valley. Gap to the leaders is at 2:00. 

50KM TO GO

Movistar could either be working for Nairo Quintana after showing a great return to top form on stage 15, only beaten by Pogačar to the Mottolino finish. But they also have Einer Rubio sat ninth on GC. 

The race is heading towards Bolzano, capital of the South Tyrol region and also the first intermediate sprint of the stage. 

A day of staying safe and staying warm for race leader Pogačar in the peloton. He could of course win the stage should a breakaway be kept within reach by Movistar but UAE are yet to hit the front to chase. 

No contest at the intermediate sprint in Bolzano with Ballerini rolling over in first. The roads will begin to head uphill again soon so we could see the sprinters try and mop up the last few points in the city. 

Peloton rolls over the sprint point without much interest in speeding up at all. 

Julius van den Berg (DSM-Firmenich PostNL) has abandoned the Giro d'Italia after his heroic fighting performance to finish last on Sunday's queen stage. 

40KM TO GO

Gap to the four men in front is at 1:35 with Movistar still at work. 

Gaviria is continuing to do a good job for the climbers in his team with the gap now at 1:12. Here's a look at the upcoming climb - the 23.3km Passo Pinei with the breakaway quartet just a few hundred metres from the start.

Dani Martínez is being moved into best position by his Bora-Hansgrohe team). Way too long for a move but certainly a good time to get ready. 

Average speed has been above 53kph in the shortened stage. 

Pogačar won't be panicking but he is down a key teammate in Mikkel Bjerg. 

Piccolo and Ballerini are struggling to hold on in the break with the steeper roads starting. 

Alaphilippe leaves Maestri and goes solo in the breakaway. His advantage is only at one minute so he would need to find his best legs to stay away from the Movistar-led peloton which is thinning out behind.

Now that it looks like a GC day is imminent in today's finish, here's how the GC sat heading into the final week of the Giro, powered by FirstCycling.

30KM TO GO

The weather is closing in again on the peloton as they head into the fog. Fiorelli has jumped away from the peloton with more points available at the Intergiro sprint in Fié allo Sciliar. No one else has chased him.

Movistar has settled into a tempo behind, allowing Alaphilippe to build his gap after attacking away from his fellow escapees. The two-time world champ is now at 1:41.

Andrea Pietrobon (Polti-Kometa) is the next to get away from the now slowed-down peloton, trying to gain more Intergiro points. 

They are all our in rain jackets and with umbrellas but it is good to see some fans still out in pretty grim conditions to welcome the riders. 

Alaphilippe still leads solo with his advantage at 1:55. He's still got 25km to go but can he re-find his best form and stay away?

Four of the other men who attacked in the day, Maestri, Pietrobon, Ballerini and Fiorelli have formed an Italian chasing quartet some 1:30 behind Alaphilippe but they will soon be back in the bunch. 

Temperature has dropped significantly as the kilometres tick away on the Passo Pinei. 

20KM TO GO

Movistar continue to work with 8.2km remaining on the climb. As I type, stage 6 winner Pelayo Sanchez has attacked from the peloton for the Spanish team.

Tobias Foss (Ineos Grenadiers) tried to follow Sanchez's move out of the peloton but is struggling to hold his wheel and looks to now be dropping back. 

Lots of moves are being made behind Sanchez to try and get a move going - Jan Tratnik (Visma-Lease a Bike) is among them. 

The move from Sanchez has brought Alaphilippe's gap down to the minute mark. Thankfully for him, he'll have a small descent section before tackling the last 5km of the long climb but it still looks unlikely that he can make it. 

The descent has allowed Alaphilippe to regain 30 seconds and establish a gap back out at 1:35 from the peloton but Sanchez is flying in pursuit and the peloton will go significantly faster up the final climb to Monte Pana. 

Acceleration

Quintana is lighting up the pace in the peloton for Rubio with the Tratnik chasing group now reabsorbed. Sanchez looks to have been sent up the road as someone to bridge to. If that isn't what they are doing then this is very curious from Movistar.

Both race leader Pogačar and second place Thomas are staying well towards the front of the peloton in case of any attacks. 

15KM TO GO

Quintana's efforts now mean Alaphilippe has just 50 seconds of a lead and his day in front likely won't last much longer. 

Quintana's work is done and it is now Sanchez pacing. Rubio should be launching his planned attack soon but who will follow him?

There is some serious signs in the peloton of action bubbling over. Pogačar is in just his short sleeve jersey now and looking ready for action. 

Meanwhile, Romain Bardet (DSM-Firmenich PostNL) has dropped from the back of the peloton - he started the day two places above Rubio on GC so this is looking to be a great idea from the Spanish team. 

Filippo Zana, who started the day in 8th - one place higher than Rubio - also looks to be struggling. 

Rubio was probably near the front too early and let Sanchez pull away again on his own. He was joined by Ewen Costiou (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), who has been one of the most attacking riders at this year's Giro. 

Costiou has got away from Sanchez who looks to have a mechanical issues. Scaroni is trying to join the Frenchman in pursuit of Alaphilippe. 

A final look at the valiant efforts of Alaphilippe in the Dolomites with the peloton now under 30 seconds from his wheel and likely to fight for the stage win. 

UAE look very comfortable in the peloton as they now hit the front of the peloton for Pogačar. This has allowed Alaphilippe to build his advantage again and crest the Passo Pinei with a 40-second advantage. 

Costiou leads a chasing trio with Scaroni and Pellizzari just 16 seconds down on the Frenchman. Scaroni sprints for KOM points which could put him into second in that classification, meaning he will likely wear it tomorrow. 

10KM TO GO

Alaphilippe is now on the descent off of the Passo Pinei and taking the corners very nicely in front. It is one of his greatest abilities so expect him to gain more time on the peloton here. 

It's full gritted teeth for Alaphilippe as he heads towards the final climb of the day up to Monte Pana. It will take quite the effort if he is to make it so expect the peloton to burst into life and chase him down. 

Bardet is with two teammates on the downhill and they are trying their best to make it back to the peloton before the final climb. He's around 25 seconds off the back of the peloton.

Pogačar is down to his final man Majka and it could be deja vu from Sunday when the race leader launched from his teammates wheel to all but confirm overall Giro victory barring incident. 

Alaphilippe has been caught by the chasing group on the road now and it looks certain to be a day for the peloton.

3KM TO GO

Zana is working so hard to stay on in the peloton with his GC position at risk in today's final if he drops. Costiou, Scaroni, Alaphilippe and Pellizzari have just 20 seconds of a lead. 

Still status quo in the peloton as the pace goes out momentarily from Majka. Pogačar will know he can pull back 20 seconds in a flash on this climb. 

Alaphilippe cracks and it is just three in front as they prepare to hit the hardest part of the climb. Chapeau to the Frenchman for another courageous ride. 

2KM TO GO

Could the trio possibly make it? They have 30 seconds with the peloton slowing down slightly behind. Majka still leads the bunch.  

Costiou is making his move in front for Arkéa-B&B Hotels. He's onto the switchbacks and leaving the two Italians in the break but the peloton could yet break his heart. 

Majka is out of the saddle and ramping things up again for the hardest slopes. Pogačar isn't quite on his wheel for now. 

Pellizzari has paced it better and has caught and passed Costiou behind. This would be huge for Bardiani and Italy if he can make it as one of the top young talents from the home nation. 

Attack

Majka pulls off and his pull was so big that O'Connor, Thomas and Martínez were already off of his wheel. Pogačar goes and he's onto Scaroni already. 

Costiou reeled in too now and the man in pink is again asserting his dominance at the Giro d'Italia. Pellizzari is in his sights. 

Thomas is with Tiberi and struggling in the cold and wet. He's trying to limit his losses but Martínez could be moving back into second here. 

1KM TO GO

Pellizzari takes a look behind and it is the worst possible thing in his rear view mirror - Pogačar. He's absolutely motoring up this climb and making it look so easy. 

Pogačar goes solo inside the final 700 metres. He left the young Italian instantly after reaching his wheel and it is stage win number 5 incoming now. 

Martínez is doing brilliant work in the fight for the podium and looks like he will also chase down Pellizzari which would bring in more bonus seconds on the line. This is huge with Thomas really struggling behind. 

Here we go again, Pogačar wins a summit finish and again extends his lead past the seven-minute mark. 

Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) wins stage 16 of the Giro d'Italia!

It will be a big loss for Thomas behind with O'Connor also losing time in a bad day for both men. Pellizzari did brilliantly to finish second ahead of Martínez but it is a huge gain for the Colombian. 

The Slovenian holds up a five over the line and he shares a nice moment with Pellizzari after the line, gifting the young Italian his sunglasses and maglia rosa. Signs exactly of why he's a true champion of the sport on and off the bike. Simply incredible and no shame in the young man losing to one of the best ever. 

Pogačar's teammate Rafał Majka revealed the ease of UAE taking the win, with the team not wanting to go for the stage until others pulled and the Slovenian actually wanting to let his teammate go for the victory:

"Actually today we didn't want to go for the stage," Majka told Eurosport. "But when other teams pull, then we say 'Why not, now we can try', then the last climb we went a little bit faster I saw only Tadej behind me and it's done.

"Tadej wanted that I go for the stage then but actually I pulled already before then I was a little bit tired so I said 'Go on man, win another stage' so chapeau. But really today we didn't want to go for the stage but when it is other teams pulling and we are still there with guys, then why not?"

Here's what Pogačar had to say after an incredible fifth win at this year's Giro:

"The day started really on and off and we didn't know what to do but when we started it was fine. The breakaway went and it was good for us and we sat back and tried to relax," he said post-race. 

"But Movistar kept on pushing and kept the breakaway close and then they went really fast on the second last climb snd then the final 2km we tried to control and then Rafa had enough, he said we push on we try to make some gaps.

"Since yesterday, it was just thinking to be safe yesterday. In the end, it was good for us and also good for the people, good for everybody so I think we should be happy given the circumstances."

The race leader also had some nice words on the young Italian that finished second on the day - Giulio Pellizzari.

"I was thinking that Pellizzari would win today's stage and he was close and I'm super happy that he arrives second also," he said.

"I really admire him in this Giro already and he sent me a photo that we took in 2019. I was actually also a small kid and he was also a small kid and it was an amazing memory from Strade Bianche and now he's here and he's going really strong and maybe he can win a stage this week."

Here's the wonderful moment shared by Pogačar and Pellizzari after the stage. 

Here's a very Italian top 10 result on stage 16 of the Giro d'Italia. Pogačar out of sight with Martínez doing well to finish third on the day to climb back to second on GC. Thomas finished the stage 15th after a tough final climb, some 33 seconds after the Colombian. Powered by FirstCycling.

Make sure to read our full stage report from a typically chaotic day at the Giro d'Italia. 

Giro d'Italia: Tadej Pogačar makes it five stage victories on shortened stage 16 after start chaos

Here's a look at the GC after stage 16 of the Giro d'Italia, with Geraint Thomas the big loser in the top 10. He lost second spot to Martínez after dropping away during the final climb. He'll have many more chances to get time back and could be forced into more attacking racing with 22 seconds to make up. Powered by FirstCycling.

With today's chaotic and brutally tough stage complete, the pain of the final week doesn't stop there. Stage 17 is  presents another incredibly tough route from Selva di Val Gardena to Passo Broncon. 

It takes in over 4000 metres of elevation gain jammed into an 159km route so look out for more explosive action in the GC group and whatever breakaway manages to get up the road.

That wraps things up for our live coverage of stage 16 at the Giro d'Italia on what was a wild day from postponed start to finish. Check back tomorrow for live coverage of stage 17 and look out for news coming out of the race from our team on the ground in Italy. 

Tadej Pogačar will have to use both hands to count his stage wins should he take a sixth tomorrow...