The reaction of riders after the finish said it all. David Millar, second on the stage and the new race leader, spoke angrily into his race radio about how ‘they’ should have said how bad the bends were; presumably he was talking about the descent where it happened, although he wouldn’t know precisely where the accident occurred.
Other riders were quieter, speaking amongst themselves, the mood muted. The podium celebrations were cancelled and the normal hustle and bustle of the Giro d’Italia was switched off. Leopard Trek rider Brice Feillu spoke in French to TV cameras, giving his reaction to the crash of his team-mate.
Nobody knew at that point that Wouter Weylandt was not going to make it. It was feared, but not confirmed, rumoured but not reported. Another Leopard Trek rider spoke to the team soigneur, repeating twice, three times that he had seen the crash. He was clearly in shock, and rolled away very soon afterwards to join up with his concerned colleagues.
At the team bus, small crowds of journalists gathered, seeking quotes that they’d much rather not have to get. The riders were nowhere to be seen, but outside two or three team workers moved about, with bleak expressions on their faces. One put up a small crowd control barrier, although it wasn’t needed; many of the journalists moved off soon afterwards, realising that the team wouldn’t be speaking before any official news was announced.
Millar had taken the race lead and was said to be giving a press conference. That was cancelled, though, as was that of the stage winner Angel Vicioso. As far as the Giro was concerned, racing matters were to be put aside, the normal protocol to be changed. It was a black day and while both of the riders would probably have paid fitting tributes to their fallen colleague, they too needed space, time to reflect.
The race will continue tomorrow. The mood will be sombre, but the riders will pedal onwards. It may be at a neutralised pace, yet the Giro d’Italia will go on. One rider will be missing; he won’t be forgotten.