Lorena Wiebes expelled from Giro d'Italia Women hours after double victory

Consternation in the Giro d'Italia Women: Lorena Wiebes was removed from the race a few hours after her double victory in the opening stage. The sprinter from SD Worx-Protime was disqualified because her bike did not comply with UCI regulations.

Wiebes impressively won the first stage of the 2026 Giro d'Italia Women on Saturday, securing a double success. Not only did she win the stage, but she also claimed the pink jersey for the first time in her career.

However, Wiebes' pink dream quickly turned into a nightmare, as a press release was issued a few hours after the finish. The Giro organization decided to disqualify the Dutch rider and remove her from the race.

Bike too light
The reason? Due to a violation of article 2.12.007-2.2: Wiebes’ bike did not meet the regulations set by the international cycling union, the UCI. "Specifically failing to meet the minimum weight requirements," the organization stated. Wiebes’ bike was found to be too light.

As a result, Wiebes is not allowed to start the second stage. Elisa Balsamo 'benefits' from Wiebes’ disqualification. The Italian rider from Lidl-Trek initially finished second in Ravenna but is now handed the stage victory and the pink jersey.