Team leads tribute to Weylandt at Giro d’Italia

Wouter Weylandt’s team led the field through the finish of the fourth stage of the Giro d’Italia as riders paid tribute to the Belgian who died yesterday.

Weylandt was killed after crashing towards the end of stage three with today’s fourth stage not counting as part of the overall race.

Although competition will resume in earnest tomorrow, today’s 216-kilometre run from Genoa to Livorno was nothing more than a procession with teams taking it in turns to lead the peloton.

After a minute’s silence and a military band playing a bugle tribute to honour the 26-year-old, the peloton moved steadily with each of the 23 teams taking a turn at the front, the riders sporting black armbands.

With 4km to go, the Leopard Trek team, along with Garmin-Cervelo’s Tyler Farrar, a close friend of Weylandt, fanned out across the road in front of the peloton and led the field through to the finish in Livorno.

“This is not a day for fighting for positions,” pink jersey holder David Millar explained before the start.

Earlier, Leopard Trek announced they would continue to take part in the Giro after suggestions they would withdraw.

The team’s general manager Brian Nygaard said: “We will start Tuesday out of respect for the family Weylandt and also to share our grief with the world of cycling.

“The boys were totally defeated. If there is anyone who did not want to continue, we accept that.”