Lars Boom handed one-month ban for punching fellow rider at Tour of Norway

The UCI has handed LottoNL-Jumbo rider Lars Boom a one-month ban for punching another rider during the Tour of Norway in May.

TV footage of the incident during Stage 2 of the race showed the 32-year-old first elbowing then punching the Sport Vlaanderen rider Preben Van Hecke.

> Video: Lars Boom disqualified from Tour of Norway for punching another rider

Boom, who is the reigning Tour of Britain champion, was immediately disqualified from the race but was initially unrepentant, saying: “He was on my wheel and I almost crashed, so I got a little hot headed. I don't want to crash, especially when an idiot does something like that.”

He later tweeted an apology – although not specifically to Van Hecke, and presumably at the insistence of his team.

I want to say sorry to all cycling fans, the organizer of the Tour of Norway and all other cyclists for my wrong reaction in today’s incident. https://t.co/d63Mxj2vu9

— Lars Boom (@lars_boom) May 17, 2018

Yesterday, LottoNL-Jumbo confirmed that Boom had been suspended by the UCI for one month from 2 July to 2 August and will miss races including the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic.

Lars Boom has been suspended by the UCI with immediate effect for one month (July 2 - August 2) after an incident in the Tour of Norway in May.

Among the races he’ll miss are GP Cerami and Prudential RideLondon and Lars is no longer backup for our Tour squad.

— LottoNLJumbo Cycling (@LottoJumbo_road) July 2, 2018

The Dutch rider, who won a Tour de France stage over the Paris-Roubaix cobbles in 2014, was omitted from his team’s squad for the three-week race but had been first reserve in case illness or injury prevented another rider from taking part.