Chiara Consonni (Canyon//SRAM) has been fined CHF100 by the Giro d'Italia Women race jury after her reaction to a crash involving Thalita de Jong (Human Powered Health) on stage 3 from Bibione to Buja. The daily jury report cited "unseemly or inappropriate behaviour and damage to the image of sport".
The crash occurred in the lead-up to the final climb of the 156km stage. De Jong went down and remained on the ground, and became tangled with Consonni's bike. Consonni, also caught in the incident, was unable to remount immediately. Visibly frustrated, she directed her anger at De Jong before forcefully freeing her bike and continuing.
Video of the incident circulated widely on social media, showing Consonni pulling her bike away from De Jong while the Dutch rider was still on the ground. The jury's sanction, published in the stage communiqué, classified the behaviour as unseemly and inappropriate, judging that it damaged the sport's image.
De Jong's costly day
De Jong was able to remount and finish the stage, crossing the line in Buja in 136th place, 12 minutes behind stage winner Elisa Balsamo. Human Powered Health confirmed their rider sustained abrasions in the crash.
De Jong, a former cyclocross world and European champion, has endured a difficult run with crashes in recent seasons. She spent 49 days recovering from a broken collarbone sustained at Trofeo Alfredo Binda earlier in her career before returning to racing at La Vuelta.
Consonni's fine was one of several sanctions issued by the commissaires. Stage 3 also produced the race's first yellow card, given to Millie Couzens for deviation from her chosen line that obstructed or endangered another rider. Fines were also issued to Yulia Biriukova and Tiril Jorgensen.
The sanctions followed earlier action in the 2026 Giro d'Italia Women, including Lorena Wiebes' disqualification on stage 1.
Neither Consonni nor De Jong had commented publicly on the incident at the time of the jury's ruling.
Cover image credit: Thomas Maheux/SWpix.com
