Giro d’Italia 2020: Tao Geoghagen Hart stays third overall amid chaos on stage 19

The stage was scheduled to run 258 kilometres from Morbegno to Asti but, shortly before the start, the riders protested about racing so far in wet conditions

Wilco Kelderman at the start of a wet stage 19 (AFP via Getty Images)

Czech Josef Cerny won the Giro d'Italia's 19th stage which started amid chaos and was halved in length on Friday following a protest by the riders against the conditions.

British rider Tao Geoghagen Hart remains third overall only 15 seconds behind the Dutchman Wilco Keldermen, who kept the maglia rosa after finishing with the peloton which crossed the line nearly 12 minutes behind Cerny.

Cerny (CCC) broke away from the leading group around 22 kilometres from the end of the 123-kilometre stage and managed to hold onto his lead until the finishing line in the town of Asti to claim the biggest win of his career.

Victor Campenaerts' late attack was in vain as he finished second.

The stage was scheduled to run 258 kilometres from Morbegno to Asti but, shortly before the start, the riders protested about racing so far in wet conditions one day after a brutal mountain stage.

After organisers agreed to their demands, the race started as planned but, after eight kilometres, the riders got on their team buses and were taken to a new starting point at Abbiategrasso.

There are two stages to go in the race which finishes in Milan on Sunday.

Reuters