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news
Alberto Contador wins Stage 9 of the 2011 Giro d Italia pic RCS Sport.jpgAlberto Contador pulled over by police on descent of Galibier - for riding without lights
As reported yesterday, the UCI has told the cycling world to be nice to Alberto Contador ahead of his defence of his Tour de France title next month, which comes before his appearance at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. That request came too late, however, to prevent the Saxo Bank-SunGard rider being pulled over by les flics earlier this week as he undertook a recce of the descent of the Galibier, which features in this year’s race.
The Spaniard’s offence? Well, with the road snaking through tunnels as it heads downwards off the pass, the French police stopped Contador to tell him that he needed to make himself visible to other road users, according to L’Equipe.
That put an end to the training ride, with Contador clambering into the team car to continue his journey down the mountain. We’re sure that Specialized, who supply the Danish ProTeam’s bikes, will be able to dig out a suitable set of lights for him from their range.
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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8 comments
I was lucky on the Tourmalet last year then? Mind you I was lucky enough to have a descending motorist who kindly stayed behind me..I think he was french too!
On the Etape in 2006 the only advice for was to keep your sunglasses off for the tunnels between the Col D'Aubisque and the Col Du Solour. Mixed message?
Typicaly french with 1 set of rules for them and a different set for everyone else. I watched le mans 24 audi a german car with english drivers went outside the white line with 2 wheels and got punished but when peogeut went out with 4 wheels not even an investigation. Its appalling
It certainly is. Next thing you know, the home team in a World Cup Final will be awarded a goal after the ball hits the crossbar and clearly doesn't cross the line
Descending the Gallibier ! i would have thought they would have booked him for speeding ! Would it have been raining he could have been done for water skiing in a public place !
Descended from the Gallibier towards Sestriere during the Monsoon type rains with centimetres of rain on the road as the traffic fought it's way off the mountain after the racers had passed ! Not an experience i would wish to repeat .
Go to www.parrabuddy.blogspot.com & @skippydetour to help PARA Athletes and win some "Goodies" from Continental Tyres !
Perhaps he will be pulled over for speed traps, not having a working bell or insufficient tread on tyres too.
La Marmotte will be interesting if everyone has to carry lights with them.
Perhaps he'll get the same treatment Robert Millar got in the '88 Tour: sent off course by gendarme, causing him to lose the stage. I do hope so.
But, cheat or not (you won't be surprised to hear that I favour the former), he is still a cyclist, and expecting riders to have lights on the off-chance they might go through a tunnel is ridiculous. Unlit tunnels should be approached with caution by motorists, then they'll see any cyclists thanks to their own headlights. And in this case, I assume there was an estate car not far behind 'Bert, with its lights on, and the shiny head of Mr. 60% behind the wheel.
Now I wonder if they'd have done the same to Thomas Voeckler? Bertie could be in for a torrid time from the French press and public in July.