May 31 (Reuters) - Lorena Wiebes was disqualified from the women's Giro d'Italia for a violation of bike weight regulations on Saturday, hours after winning the opening stage.
The Dutchwoman, who rides for SD Worx-Protime, won a bunch sprint to claim the leader's pink jersey, but it was awarded to second-placed Elisa Balsamo of Lidl-Trek after the disqualification.
Race organisers said Wiebes had been "expelled from the Giro d’Italia Women following a breach of article 2.12.007 – 2.2: use of a bicycle not in compliance with the regulations, specifically failing to meet the minimum weight requirements".
In a statement, SD Worx-Protime said the disqualification was "exceptionally severe" and that they had no explanation for why the bike was found to be under the minimum weight.
"Wiebes has ridden this bicycle on multiple occasions this season, always with the same setup. She achieved numerous victories on this bike," the team added.
"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."
(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Kate Mayberry)
