The 18th stage of the Giro d'Italia 2001 was cancelled after a massive police raid on the riders' hotels in San Remo the evening before.
Large-scale raid: Around 200 officers from the Italian anti-doping unit (NAS) and the financial police raided the hotels of all 20 participating teams.
Discovery of banned substances: During the raid, various substances were seized, including corticosteroids, testosterone, and other stimulants, as well as blood bags and unlabeled medications.
Riders' protest: The riders were furious about the raid, which lasted late into the night, and refused to start the next morning. After an emergency meeting between the riders, race officials, and the organizers, it was decided to officially cancel the stage for “technical reasons.”
The stage had been scheduled as the “queen stage” of that edition, a demanding 230-kilometer route from Imperia to Sant'Anna di Vinadio featuring five climbs.
The Giro resumed the following day with the 19th stage.
Imperia