Yesterday we posted a quote from stage winner Filippo Pozzato, referring to rain drenched Stage 11, in which he said, "The maximum time limit annulled in L'Aquila? An injustice: those who don't have it in their legs to race a Giro should not be helped. We worked like crazy to remain within that limit."
On stage 11, 41 riders who finished 46 minutes behind the first finishing time were allowed to continue racing despite an official time cut of 39 minutes. However, a new rule implemented by the UCI upon request of Tour de France organisers ASO stipulates that riders given such a favor are penalized in the points classification.
The measure is designed to discourage sprinters from riding easy in the mountains and still taking the daily honours and prize money awarded to the points classification leader, when they would otherwise be out of the race were it not for the judges’ clemency.
Under the new rule Farrar has been given a 25 point deduction which then moved him out of the lead in the points classification. "This is the rule and I accept it," said Farrar. Farrar is now thinking of skipping the last week of the Giro as he doesn't believe he could finish the Giro with the points jersey, even if he were to recapture it in the few sprinters' stages remaining.
The new leader in the points classification is Jérôme Pineau (Quick Step).
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