Heavy rain interrupted Friday's 19th stage of the Giro d'Italia following protests by the riders in the face of difficult weather conditions.

Friday's stage was planned to be a flat 258km ride between Morbegno and Asti but was cut back 100km after riders revolted when faced with pelting rain in the northern region of Lombardy.

Just 8km into the stage however the action was then stopped due to the deteriorating weather.

The race is now due to restart at 1430 local time (1230 GMT) at the town of Abbiategrasso where the riders have travelled in their team buses. Only 124.5km of the original 258km will be covered in the shortened version of a flat stage likely to finish in a mass bunch sprint.