Giro d'Italia: Stage 19 cancelled due to heavy snow

Italian Vincenzo Nibali is the overall leader of the race

Friday's 19th stage of the Giro d'Italia from Ponte di Legno to Val Martello has been cancelled due to adverse weather conditions, race organisers have announced.

Two of the major climbs on the stage had already been axed due to snow, and officials were forced to admit defeat in their fight to keep the rest of the stage open.

This year's race has been hit by bad weather, with torrential rain interrupting a number of previous stages, and organisers now have to re-organise the culmination of the race which is due to end on Sunday.

Italian Vincenzo Nibali extended his overall lead to four minutes and two seconds by winning the Stage 18 mountain time trial yesterday.

Australian Cadel Evans and Team Sky's Rigoberto Uran are fighting it out for second place.