GAP, France — Two riders, including a teammate of defending Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas, were kicked out of the race after they got into an altercation that both teams said was minor and unworthy of such a harsh penalty.
Cycling governing body UCI and race organizers said
Wednesday that Thomas’ Ineos teammate Luke Rowe and Tony Martin, who rides in support of Jumbo-Visma leader Steven Kruijswijk, were disqualified.
The decision is a blow for both Thomas and Kruijswijk, who were respectively second and third in the overall standings behind race leader Julian Alaphilippe ahead of three tough Alpine stages where they will need strong support.
Martin and Rowe appeared to shove each other close to the finish of the 125-mile Stage 17 to Gap in the Col de la Sentinelle. Martin shoulder-barged Rowe, who then chased him and pushed a hand on Rowe’s neck.
Rowe said it was just a battle for position, adding that he “shook hands” with Martin at the end of the stage.
“To come here with this team, a bunch of good mates, I feel like I’ve let them down and of course let myself down,” he said. “We were both trying to do a job. Maybe we both overstepped the mark slightly, but it feels harsh to be thrown off the race, both of us. Neither of us deserve that.”
Ineos Manager Dave Brailsford criticized the decision as “incredibly harsh if I’m honest” while the Jumbo-Visma team said it had appealed the sanction.
“It’s nothing more than you see most days of the race,” he said. “I think a yellow card would have been merited but a red card, for both riders in fact, feels a bit severe to me.”
Thomas shrugged off the shoving.
“It’s just the normal fighting to get their leaders into position,” he said. “Nothing crazy, really.”
It’s the second straight year that Thomas has lost a teammate on disciplinary grounds. Gianni Moscon was disqualified for punching a rival during the 2018 Tour.
• Italian rider Matteo Trentin used a solo attack to win Wednesday’s stage after pulling away from a group of breakaway riders.
It was Trentin’s third career stage win at the Tour, but first since 2014.
Trentin rode at the front for most of the stage after taking part in a breakaway that formed just after the start of the hilly ride from Pont du Gard. The European champion moved clear of the leading group about 9 miles from the finish at the bottom of the Col de la Sentinelle. He was first at the summit and went all out in the downhill leading to Gap.
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