The Giro del Friuli was supposed to finish today with the final stage from Arta Terme to Udine over 164 kilometers. The race organizers decided to cancel the stage, following yesterday's terrible crash from Thomas Casarotto (Team Generali). Casarotto has severe head injuries and is still in critical condition.
The race organization quickly came to an agreement. Giro president Giovanni Cappanera, the race directors, the commissaires and also all the sports directors of the participating teams decided to stop the stage race. Instead, the peloton transferred via car to the finish in Udine, starting at 10:45 this morning.
The race organizers wanted to show their respect to the young rider, who crashed in a descent in Pesariis (near Udine). The organizers also said that their thoughts are with the family of Casarotto as well as his team.
The press release also stated that the final overall classification will be the one after stage three. Norwegian Vegard Stake Laengen is the winner of the 2010 Giro di Friuli, ahead of Carlos Alexandre Manarelli and Matteo Busato.