Wouter Weylandt’s Leopard-Trek team withdraws from Giro d’Italia cycling race – Cycling news
The tragic death of Wouter Weylandt has led to his Leopard-Trek team pulling out of the Giro d’Italia race.
The fourth stage of Giro d’Italia from Genova Quarto dei Mille to Livorno was neutralised as all the results did not count as a mark of respect for the late Belgian rider.
At the end of the stage, Leopard-Trek’s remaining eight riders and his best friend, US sprinter Tyler Farrar of the Garmin-Cervelo team crossed the finish line together with arms around each other. All the riders received a standing ovation from an emotional
crowd.
At the start of the stage in Genoa Piazza Kennedy, a minute’s silence was observed by the peloton in memory of the Belgian rider Weylandt who died in a high-speed crash just 25 kilometres from the end of Monday’s stage three of the race.
The Leopard-Trek team manager Brian Nygaard said, “The decision needed to be taken by the (team's) riders, because they are the ones that participate in the race. We have always said that we would stand behind their choice.”
Brian Nygaard thanked the race organisation RCS, the members of other teams, all the fans on the road and the Italian authorities. During the stage, all the riders of the team wore black armbands.
In December 2010, seven amateur riders were killed by a car due to which Giro d’Italia race director Angelo Zomegnan had plans to mourn the victims of a mass accident during Giro’s eighth stage to Tropea. He said, “Now, sadly, we have to pay homage to one
more rider.”
The captain of the team Fabian Wegmann took the decision of withdrawing from the event.
He said, “We have a lot of respect for the Giro d'Italia and for cycling, but we simply cannot continue racing given the circumstances. We are professional athletes, but we feel this is the right thing to do.”
The 26-year-old Belgian rider Weylandt was the only rider along with Philippe Gilbert to win the stages both at Giro and Vuelta.
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