Dani Rowe 'heartbroken' for Lorena Wiebes after 'harsh' Giro d'Italia Women 2026 disqualification - 'It's terrible'
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Published 31/05/2026 at 13:11 GMT+1
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The decision to disqualify Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) from the Giro d’Italia Women left TNT Sports expert Dani Rowe ”heartbroken” by what she deemed a ”harsh decision.”
Rowe left 'disappointed' and 'heartbroken' after shock Wiebes disqualification from Giro
Video credit: TNT Sports
The Dutch sprint sensation stormed to Stage 1 victory on Saturday, only to later be thrown out of the Grand Tour by organisers for her bike ”failing to meet the minimum weight requirements.”
Wiebes’ bike was found to not comply with regulations as it was 20 grams underweight, meaning she was forced to immediately hand the pink jersey over to Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek).
The decision left her team stunned, with SD Worx-Protime later releasing a statement casting doubt on the ”bicycle-weighting procedures” at the race and insisting Wiebes had already ”achieved numerous victories on this bike” during the 2026 season.
Speaking ahead of Stage 2 on Sunday, Rowe explained her exasperation at the race losing one of its star names.
”I think it’s terrible, I’m honestly really disappointed,” Rowe told TNT Sports and Eurosport.
”I think it’s a huge upset for the race and there is no positivity that can really come out of it. I’m heartbroken for Lorena, because she would have put herself in the best shape she could be for this race. To be thrown out is a harsh decision.
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Highlights: Balsamo declared winner of Stage 1 after Wiebes is disqualified
Video credit: TNT Sports
”Especially after the statement that came out last night from SD Worx, who said she has ridden this bike with the same set-up multiple times, she has won on it.
”But not only that, the bike was checked multiple times after the stage and there was a big discrepancy of weight on the same scales. So where is the margin of error on the scales? It’s a huge shame.”
Fellow pundit Ilenia Lazzaro pointed out that the decision will create an opportunity for others as it blows the race wide open ahead of another sprint stage on Sunday.
- 'Severe sanction' - SD Worx left 'astonished' after Wiebes disqualification
- Wiebes wins sprint finish but later thrown out of race for bike weight violation
”For SD Worx-Protime, they have to have a plan B as well, maybe today [Sunday] it will be Barbara Guarischi to sprint,” Lazzaro said.
”But it will change everything for the other teams because there is a huge opportunity to win the stage, to take the jersey.
”The intermediate sprint will be crucial for points and also for seconds, and everyone, really everyone, can win today.”
Stam - Wiebes has already won 10 times on this bike
SD Worx-Protime sports director Danny Stam spoke to TNT Sports ahead of Stage 2 to explain his frustration with the decision and reiterate his team’s doubts about the way Wiebes’ bike was weighed.
”For us it was a big surprise that we got told that the bike was too light, because it’s the bike that we always use and that Lorena has already won on 10 times, I think,” Stam said.
”They showed that the bike was too light and, on their scale, the bike was too light. We asked 20 times I think, and we did it 20 different ways, but in the end the decision was made, and they said the bike was too light.”
Asked if there was any reason the bike could have measured lighter, he replied: ”No, it’s really a miracle; we really don’t know how it is.
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Highlights: Vingegaard on cusp of Giro d'Italia triumph after victory in Stage 20
Video credit: TNT Sports
”We know Lorena won stages in Burgos in the weeks before with the same bike, same set-up. The bike was good, it was measured many times.
”What do we say? I think Lorena wins with three bikes; we don’t need to look for 20 grams in a sprint stage. We are really surprised and we have doubts about the measuring.”
He added: ”[Wiebes is] extremely disappointed. It’s a very hard punishment that she got, disqualification for the complete Giro.
”We came here to win three or four stages and that should be possible, but she got disqualified for this and we don’t have a chance any more.”
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Stream every stage of the 2026 Giro d'Italia Women on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
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