Saturday 21 February 2015 20:07, UK
The fifth stage of the Tour of Oman was called off on Saturday due to high winds and soaring temperatures.
After a sandstorm had rendered the start location at Al Sawadi Beach unridable, the peloton began racing instead further along the route at the foot of the Bousher Al Amerat climb, where it was intended for them to ride four laps of a circuit finishing at the Ministry of Housing.
However, by the time they set off, the sandstorms had been replaced by rising temperatures of up to 50 degress.
With riders suffering in the heat, tyres repeatedly puncturing on the baking tarmac and brakes not working properly, the peloton decided to stop under a bridge for shade and refused to carry on racing.
After heated discussions with organisers, it was eventually decided the remainder of the stage would be neutralised and the riders would roll to the finish without racing.
Etixx - Quick-Step's Tom Boonen said: “It was the riders’ decision. If we didn’t stand up for ourselves, the stage would have gone on.
“It’s good that we stood up for ourselves. We are fathers and sons. This is about people’s lives and our health. This could be an important day for cycling. I think it’s time that the UCI sets up rules for extreme weather. We’re probably the only sport that doesn’t have this.”
Trek Factory Racing's Fabian Cancellara added: "It was for the security of the riders. It is nothing against the organisers, but it is impossible to descend at 85kph when the temperature is 47 degrees. The tyres were boiling and some of the guys could take them off with their hands and you usually can’t do that.”
The International Cycling Union later released a statement that read: "The UCI considers the safety of riders as an absolute priority and is therefore taking this issue very seriously.
"We are currently working with key stakeholders to agree protocols to be adopted if a race is affected by extremes of temperature, precipitation etc. We intend that this be approved very quickly as we are conscious of the need for clear guidelines for organisers, teams and riders on this issue."
The race will now end with Sunday's sixth and final 133km stage.
Spaniard Rafael Valls of the Lampre team is the overall leader, five seconds ahead of American Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing) with Spain's Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) a further 14 seconds back in third place.
