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Video: Luke Rowe and Tony Martin apologise after mid-stage spat sees both expelled from Tour de France; teams plan appeal

Expulsions deprive Geraint Thomas and Steven Kruijswijk of key team mates ahead of decisive Alpine stages

Luke Rowe of Team Ineos and Jumbo-Visma’s Tony Martin have apologised in a joint video interview after both riders were expelled from the Tour de France following an incident towards the end of today’s Stage 17 into Gap, although both insist that the decision to disqualify them was too harsh. Both teams plan to appeal the decision.

Video showed Martin apparently swerving towards Rowe, almost forcing him off the road, before the Welshman then seems to shove the German.

The expulsions, made by the UCI race jury, deprive Team Ineos of its road captain as Geraint Thomas seeks to defend his title, and Jumbo-Visma’s Steven Kruijswijk of a key team member as the race heads into the Alps.

Thomas currently sits second on General Classification, 1 minute 35 seconds behind race leader Julian Alaphilippe of Deceuninck-Quick Step, with Kruijswijk – now down to five team-mates – a further 12 seconds back in third place.

 

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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28 comments

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IanEdward | 4 years ago
0 likes

Haha, oops! OK, neutral in the Scottish/Andy Murray sense, anyone but Ineos*  smiley

*and I don't even really mean that to be honest, old knee jerks die hard unfortunately.
 

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IanEdward | 4 years ago
3 likes
Quote:

Otherwise in years to come, the win will be marred by the fact that the two men who have a chance of overtaking Julian Alaphilippe in the standings, were hamstrung by an off the road decision.

I think the only people who remember this in years to come will be the anti-French/Team Brexi-Fracking-Tax-Evasion fan boys who appear to be getting all worked up about it on other forums.

That said, as a neutral I would have preferred that both riders had stayed in the tour.

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srchar replied to IanEdward | 4 years ago
2 likes
IanEdward wrote:

Team Brexi-Fracking-Tax-Evasion fan boys... as a neutral

lol!

I initially thought DQ was a bit harsh on the pair of them, as they'd put their handbags away and shaken hands by the end of the stage, but I have seen some other footage not widely shown on TV, where it does look like they put other riders in danger as they shoved eachother around, so while I'd have preferred to see them stay in the race for entertainment value, a line does have to be drawn somewhere to keep other riders safe.

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Rapha Nadal | 4 years ago
3 likes

For those wondering, the jury consisted of:

Gianluca Crocetti (ITA) as jury president with Adrien Levesque (CAN), Max Michaud (FRA), Vicente Tortajada Villarroya (ESP), and Jean-Michel Voets (BEL) as jury members.

I think/hope that I've gotten the spelling of their names right.

There is video floating around of Rowe being the instigator and to which Martin responded.  There are even stills which appear to Rowe's fist connecting but they're so blurry that it's extremely hard to commit to a view on this.

But yeah, fuck France if it suits you.

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peted76 | 4 years ago
2 likes

Harsh, over the top punishment. Utter nonsense. Jury, ASO, UCI whatever, yet another example of rules implementation inconsistency at the Tour de Farce.

Any other punishment would have been fine, but being thrown out for this, when they'd ridden for hours in 33 degree heat just doesn't seem right. 

Blimey Miguel Angel Lopez slapped and punched a spectator at the Giro and got off scott free.

 

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longassballs | 4 years ago
0 likes

Both have riden and done their jobs fantastically this tour but I find myself torn because I think it can only improve the racing for the two best GC teams thus far to lose the riders that control the race.

Dunno if it's the right decision. It's good for us viewers though

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jigr69 | 4 years ago
1 like

The penaly does seem harsh and considering that out of the top four in the standings, this puts two of the none French men in a disadvantage. I would prefer to see a Frenchman win despite this penalty rather than see a Frenchman win because of the penalty.

Otherwise in years to come, the win will be marred by the fact that the two men who have a chance of overtaking Julian Alaphilippe in the standings, were hamstrung by an off the road decision.

Rowe and Martin both made a mistake, settled it on the road, with no hard feelings afterwards. It didn't impact the result of the race, nor give any advantage to their respective teams.

So we now expect to see any rider who cuts infront of another to be disqualified regardless! If you don't apply the rule evenly from here in onwards, it becomes more obvious as to the motivation behind the disqualification.

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Simon E replied to jigr69 | 4 years ago
3 likes
jigr69 wrote:

The penaly does seem harsh and considering that out of the top four in the standings, this puts two of the none French men in a disadvantage. I would prefer to see a Frenchman win despite this penalty rather than see a Frenchman win because of the penalty.

Otherwise in years to come, the win will be marred by the fact that the two men who have a chance of overtaking Julian Alaphilippe in the standings, were hamstrung by an off the road decision.

Rowe and Martin both made a mistake, settled it on the road, with no hard feelings afterwards. It didn't impact the result of the race, nor give any advantage to their respective teams.

So we now expect to see any rider who cuts infront of another to be disqualified regardless! If you don't apply the rule evenly from here in onwards, it becomes more obvious as to the motivation behind the disqualification.

Firstly it's an international jury of commissaires. It's insulting to them to suggest that they are favouring one team over two others without any evidence. Also, they can only act on what is caught on camera, not hearsay. There was plenty of argy-bargy before start-to-finish TV coverage and much of it went unseen by anyone except the riders.

Secondly, there's a lot more to this matter than just one rider cutting in front of another. IMHO that's why Rowe was trying hard (a bit too hard IMHO) to play it cool afterwards and suggest there was no problem. I think he knew he'd overstepped the mark.

And the race isn't "marred" there is just potential for it to influence the outcome. But it's the same when a rider is injured in a crash, finishes outside the time cut or has to leave the race for another reason. There is potential to alter the race in every pedal stroke, every corner, every piece of street furniture and every climb. That's part of the game, that's how it goes, there's no point wishing it was different.

But feel free to ignore the facts if they don't suit your PoV.

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AlsoSomniloquism | 4 years ago
1 like

I wonder if it was the proximity to the crowds that has led to the banning. Both incidents appear to have happened less then a foot away from a specatator and could have caused a crash into the sides.  If they had been doing it in the main body of the peloton or on a quiet section I suspect the punishment would have been less severe unless the UCI are just deciding to have a crack down.

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RobD | 4 years ago
1 like

When Nacer Bouhanni has been able to get away with some of the crap that he has pulled in the past then I feel like this is probably a little bit strong. Relegate them to last on the stage and fine them but unless there's evidence of something else such as punches thrown it does seem harsh.

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Drinfinity | 4 years ago
2 likes

These are the rules. Clearly they were broken. Any race I’ve been involved with, on either side of the tape, riders would be dq for that.

 

1.2.079 All licence holders shall at all times be properly dressed and behave correctly in all circumstances, even when not racing. 
They shall refrain from any acts of violence, threats or insults or any other improper behaviour or from putting other persons in danger.

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Htc replied to Drinfinity | 4 years ago
1 like
Drinfinity wrote:

These are the rules. Clearly they were broken. Any race I’ve been involved with, on either side of the tape, riders would be dq for that.

 

1.2.079 All licence holders shall at all times be properly dressed and behave correctly in all circumstances, even when not racing. 
They shall refrain from any acts of violence, threats or insults or any other improper behaviour or from putting other persons in danger.

Agreed. It would be much worse if they hadn't been diciplined. Any offence should be punished, riders must know that anything that jepredises the safety of another rider or spectators, as in this incident is unacceptable.

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Cupov | 4 years ago
1 like

Right decision for me. Brambilla and Rovny got DQ'd mid stage of the vuelta for similar antics. Rowe and Martin should know better with their level of experience.

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Rick_Rude | 4 years ago
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Overreaction. Is this just one those make it up as you feel like sanctions or are there any set rules with set consequences that have been broken?

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handlebarcam | 4 years ago
1 like

I don't think it is too harsh. Deliberately dangerous riding, as Martin clearer did, and physical retaliation, as perpetrated by Rowe, should not be tolerated. It would set a bad example to do otherwise. Pull that sort of shit in a youth race and, well, you probably wouldn't be seen, but if you were you'd be kicked out too.

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Xena | 4 years ago
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What’s the problem , I remember sky riders blocking other riders . This is a old tactic used by teams before . Ban the tactic or let them get on with it . 

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WeLoveHills replied to Xena | 4 years ago
1 like
Xena wrote:

What’s the problem , I remember sky riders blocking other riders . This is a old tactic used by teams before . Ban the tactic or let them get on with it . 

Both riders have admitted wrongdoing.

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iandusud replied to WeLoveHills | 4 years ago
3 likes
WeLoveHills wrote:
Xena wrote:

What’s the problem , I remember sky riders blocking other riders . This is a old tactic used by teams before . Ban the tactic or let them get on with it . 

Both riders have admitted wrongdoing.

Yes and a fine would be totally appropriate but a ban for a bit of handbags... Particularly as they dealt with it themselves in a mature fashion. Totally out of proportion and in itself brings the sport in to more disrepute by making a mountain out of molehill.

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nortonp | 4 years ago
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.

 

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nortonp | 4 years ago
0 likes

.

 

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nortonp | 4 years ago
1 like

The President of the Jury is Gianluca Crocetti. Why do you think he be biased in favour of French riders?

 

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kil0ran | 4 years ago
2 likes

Love the guy in bright green doing the wanker signs

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BehindTheBikesheds replied to kil0ran | 4 years ago
1 like
kil0ran wrote:

Love the guy in bright green doing the wanker signs

Someone suggested it was Bez from the Happy Mondays given the hand signals  (I didn't think it was wanker sign?)

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dooderooni | 4 years ago
1 like

That seems harsh on both, but particularly on Luke Rowe.  I didn't see the dispute continue up the climb so it does seem like there wasn't much to it. 

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JohnnyEnglish | 4 years ago
12 likes

I'm sure its purely coincidence that the race commissionaires decided to handicap the teams of the top two non-French GC contenders...

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kil0ran replied to JohnnyEnglish | 4 years ago
3 likes
JohnnyEnglish wrote:

I'm sure its purely coincidence that the race commissionaires decided to handicap the teams of the top two non-French GC contenders...

See also not DQ'ing French road race champion Arnaud Demare in the infamous Sagan/Cav crash

Complete coincidence

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Jackson replied to JohnnyEnglish | 4 years ago
7 likes
JohnnyEnglish wrote:

I'm sure its purely coincidence that the race commissionaires decided to handicap the teams of the top two non-French GC contenders...

The race doesn't appoint them, the UCI does. But don't let that spoil your British tinfoil-hattery.

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JohnnyEnglish replied to Jackson | 4 years ago
1 like

[/quote]

The race doesn't appoint them, the UCI does. But don't let that spoil your British tinfoil-hattery.

[/quote]

 

Actually I'm hoping Alaphilippe wins, but fair and square. But don't let that spoil your assumptions.

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