Italian manager takes the blame after Gianni Moscon DQ'd from Worlds for taking tow from team car
Davide Cassani looks to direct criticism away from Moscon
Italian national team manager Davide Cassani has taken responsibility for the extended sticky bottle that saw Gianni Moscon disqualified from the road race at the World Championships in Bergen.
Moscon, who was in a late breakaway and eventually crossed the line in 29th place, was disqualified after video footage emerged of him taking a tow from the Italian team car as he chased to regain contact with the peloton after crashing on the penultimate lap.
Cassani was in the passenger seat of the car handing the bottle to Moscon, and, in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, took responsibility for the incident.
>>> Riders to face bans for holding on to team cars and going through level crossings from 2018
"What happened is all my fault. I gave him the bottle and told him to hold it," the 56-year-old, managing the Italian team in a World Championships for the final time, admitted.
"I know I shouldn't have done it and I apologise to everyone because it has made all of Italy look bad. However, what happened shouldn't affect Gianni's image. He doesn't deserve to be tarred by this, he's a good, honest guy."
The incident comes at the end of a up-and-down second professional season for Moscon, who proved to be a valuable domestique for Chris Froome at the Vuelta a España, but was also suspended for six weeks by Team Sky after being filmed appearing to make racist comments to FDJ's Kevin Reza after a stage of the Tour de Romandie.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
The Italian is expected to finish his 2017 season on home soil with the Giro dell'Emilia and Il Lombardia.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Henry Robertshaw began his time at Cycling Weekly working with the tech team, writing reviews, buying guides and appearing in videos advising on how to dress for the seasons. He later moved over to the news team, where his work focused on the professional peloton as well as legislation and provision for cycling. He's since moved his career in a new direction, with a role at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
-
Forget distance covered, these are the key stats to note in your Strava Year in Sport
We asked a coach how to best analyse our end of year Strava data
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'She should show a bit more respect' - Lotte Kopecky responds to Demi Vollering comments
The pair seemingly had one last fractious year together at SD Worx-Protime in 2024
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Latvia protest against Mathieu van der Poel's World Championships result, saying he 'endangered spectators'
Latvian Cycling Federation calls on UCI to explain decision not to disqualify Dutchman who mounted pavement
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'I was pushing but I couldn't feel my legs' - GB's Oscar Onley on his breakout World Championships ride
The 21-year-old was the youngest man in the top-20 in Zürich and matched some of the big guns on his way to 16th
By Adam Becket Published
-
'It was a stupid move, but it worked' - Tadej Pogačar on his history-making World Championships ride
Welcome to the Pogačar era, where the Slovenian can attack from 100km to the line and still win. It's just starting.
By Adam Becket Published
-
'Crazy', 'not normal', 'another level' - Peloton reacts to another Tadej Pogačar solo masterclass at World Championships
The win was not unexpected, but the way it happened might have been, as the Slovenian soloed to historic victory
By Adam Becket Published
-
Tadej Pogačar completes stunning Triple Crown with 51km solo to maiden rainbow jersey
Slovenian caps off imperious year with victory at the World Championships road race in Zurich
By Flo Clifford Published
-
'Everyone wants to win, sometimes that means everyone wants to lose' - Dutch attack, attack, and attack, but end up with fifth after confusing World Championships road race
Demi Vollering staked everything on trying to win the rainbow bands, but it wasn't to be. Was there a better way?
By Adam Becket Published
-
Lotte Kopecky has 'perfect day' as she sprints to Worlds glory again
Belgian becomes seventh woman to defend the rainbow bands on tough day on the roads of Zürich
By Adam Becket Published
-
'In a sprint with Kopecky, that’s probably the best I can do' - Chloé Dygert content with silver in World Championships road race
The American took the best result for her country since 1991 in the road race, capping off great year for USA women's cycling
By Adam Becket Published