The AIGCP (Association Internationnale des Groupes Cyclistes Professionnels), headed by Patrick Lefevere, formally complained to the Giro organisers today, regarding the hassle that pretty much everyone had in getting away from Sardinia, as Ed alluded to in his diary.
The fact that today was meant to be a rest day was lost on the teams which spent most of the day travelling, with riders unable to get out on their bikes at all because the trucks (with the bikes) didn’t get to the team hotels until the evening – definitely not what these guys need after several very hard days in the hills.
Here’s the communication in full;
“In light of the numerous transfers that have characterised the first three stages of the 90th edition of the Giro D’Italia, the ‘AIGCP’ (Association Internationnale des Groupes Cyclistes Professionnels) would like to highlight the logistical difficulties their teams had upon leaving Sardinia.
“Some teams only arrived at their hotels at 3pm. Further difficulties were caused due to the fact that the ferry transporting the team vehicles and team equipment was heavily delayed, arriving at the port of Naples at 5.30pm, meaning that the athletes couldn’t take part in their normal afternoon training session.
“The ‘AIGCP’ would like to reiterate that their teams collaborated fully with RCS, something that lead to a wonderful event fully respecting the members of the public, even though they had to organise very complicated transfers for their athletes and staff in occasion of the presentation of the Giro D’Italia on Friday, 11th May and for the timed team trial that took place on the Island of Maddalena the day after.
“Having fully understood the organisers’ requirements and efforts, the ‘AIGCP’ would like to ask that RCS pay more attention to detail when planning future transfers and that they consider not only the Organisers’ interests but also the necessities of the Teams taking part.”
AIGCP – Patrick Lefevere
It almost goes without saying that the organisers would plan for the riders to actually have a rest on the Rest Day, but it’s interesting to see how these things are handled.
