Lorena Wiebes' Bike Under UCI Weight Limit, Stripped of Giro d'Italia Stage One Victory

Lorena Wiebes was disqualified from the women's Giro d'Italia on Saturday night for riding a bicycle that failed to meet the UCI minimum weight requirement. The 27-year-old Dutch rider for Team SD Worx-Protime had crossed the finish line first in Ravenna earlier that day. 8kg limit set by the UCI.

2km circuit in Ravenna. Elisa Balsamo of Lidl-Trek was awarded the stage win and will start Sunday's second stage wearing the maglia rosa. Lara Gillespie finished second and Chiara Consonni placed third.

Team SD Worx-Protime said it was stunned by the penalty. The team noted a weight difference of more than 50g between the first and second weighing of the bike after the finish in Ravenna. 8kg threshold.

Balsamo said the victory was not the way she wanted to win but accepted the jury's decision. She described wearing the maglia rosa as an honour and said she looked forward to defending it on Sunday. Multiple crashes occurred during the 139km stage.

After 35km, Movistar's 20-year-old British rider Cat Ferguson abandoned the race and was taken to hospital for evaluation. Sunday's second stage runs 156km from Roncade to Caorle and is expected to suit sprinters.