Stage 2 of the Tour of Slovenia has been neutralised around 27 kilometres from the finish after the race doctor had to remain attending multiple victims of a previous downhill crash.
Stage 2's largely flat stage was moving into its final, decisive phase with a series of small, technical ascents and descents including the Cat. 4 climb of Jeruzalem when the race director first indicated to riders to slow down. Then after a couple of kilometres the race was stopped completely.
The crash on a sweeping downhill left-hand bend shortly before the neutralisation involved around five, as yet unidentified, riders, with the race doctor stopping to check on their condition.
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At the time, the main peloton was heading the race on the 181.8-kilometre stage from Radlje ob Dravi to Ormož , shortly after a five-rider early break had been reeled in.
Before it stopped the race director called race leader and stage 1 winner Laurence Pithie (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) forward to explain that they had to stop the stage for safety reasons.
Riders first slowed then halted completely in the middle of a deeply rural area, taking on drinks and refuelling as they waited in warm sunshine.
After 15 minutes' wait, it was stilll unclear how quickly the race would begin again. Commissaires spent time going through the peloton and attempting to ensure those who were in a second group when the race was suspended, would then wait for the same amount of time as before the neutralisation once it got underway again.
After around 25 minutes, with staff returning to the stage, the race got underway again for the last 27 kilometres.
