The team of Dutch cyclist Lorena Wiebes was left “astonished” after the multi-talented 27-year-old was disqualified from the Giro d’Italia women for riding an underweight bike.

Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) comfortably claimed victory in an opening stage bunch sprint to claim the first leader’s maglia rosa (pink jersey) of the race ahead of Elisa Balsamo (Lidl–Trek) and Ireland’s Lara Gillespie (UAE Team ADQ) in Ravenna.

However, hours after being presented the jersey, Wiebes was sensationally kicked out of the race.

Race organisers said in a written statement that last year’s points classification winner on the Giro was riding a bike “not in compliance with the regulations, specifically failing to meet the minimum weight requirements”.

Bikes in UCI World Tour races have a lower weight limit of 6.8 kilograms, with Wiebes’s said to weigh 200 grams under the limit. 

However, Team SD Worx-Protime were furious at the ruling, saying it had “serious questions” over whether the procedures in place were accurate.

“Team SD Worx-Protime is astonished by the decision of the UCI Commissaires’ Panel that Lorena Wiebes’ bicycle did not comply with the minimum weight limit after the first stage of the Giro d’Italia Women,” the statement read.

“The team has serious questions about the bicycle-weighting procedures at the Giro d’Italia Women. 

“For example, there was a weight difference of more than 50 grams between the first and second weighing of Wiebes’ bicycle after the finish of the stage in Ravenna.

“Wiebes has ridden this bicycle on multiple occasions this season, always with the same set up. 

“She achieved numerous victories on this bike. Moreover, earlier this year, the bicycle was weighed by UCI officials after several races in which Wiebes won sprint finishes convincingly. 

“On each occasion, the bicycle’s weight was found to be comfortably above the 6.8-kilogram limit. The team therefore does not understand how the very same bicycle could now suddenly be measured below the minimum weight requirement.”

The team said the “exceptionally severe sanction” was unjustified and the team “has no explanation for why Wiebes’ bicycle was found to be under the minimum weight on this occasion”.

Wiebes, the reigning Dutch national road race champion and reigning world gravel champion, has won five stages at both the Tour de France Femmes and the Giro d’Italia Women.

Her disqualification means that former world road champion Balsamo was awarded the first leader’s jersey of the race.  

“Of course, it is not the way I want to win but this is a decision of the jury,” the Italian said.

“In any case, it’s an honour to wear the maglia rosa and I am looking forward to trying to defend it in tomorrow’s stage.”

The 139km opening stage from Cesenatico, which ended with three laps of a 13.2km city circuit, featured multiple crashes.

Sunday’s second stage of 156km between Roncade and Caorle is also likely to finish in a bunch sprint.

Hindley all but seals Giro podium after Vingegaard’s solo victory

On the penultimate stage of the men’s race, Jonas Vingegaard stamped an exclamation point on a race he has comfortably dominated with a solo victory on stage 20.

The win all but ensures the 29-year-old will also win the Giro, as he sits five minutes and 22 seconds ahead of second-placed Felix Gall in the general classification, with just a processional stage into Rome to come.

Gall finished second on the stage, a minute and 15 seconds behind Vingegaard, who attacked from the group of favourites 11km before the finish.

Jai Hindley finished third on the stage, just behind Gall, to seal a third-place finish overall.

The final stage is a 131km flat passage into and around Rome, which will inevitably finish in a bunch sprint.