Giro d'Italia stage 19 cancelled because of heavy snow

Stage 19 of the Giro d'Italia, to be held on Friday, has been cancelled because of heavy snow.

The 139km stage from Ponte di Legno to Val Martello in the Dolomite mountains had already been re-routed on Thursday, given that the stage would take in the highest point of the race at 2,783m.

And with windchill expected to drop to -20C, organisers have taken no chances.

Italy's Vincenzo Nibali leads the race by four minutes and two seconds from Australia's Cadel Evans.

The Giro has been hampered by bad weather throughout the race. Pre-event favourite, Britain's Sir Bradley Wiggins, pulled out after stage 12 because of a chest infection.