Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) has been disqualified from the 2017 Tour de France after crashing with Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) on stage four.
The double world champion clashed with Cavendish in the final few hundred metres of the stage to Vittel, sending the Dimension Data rider tumbling to the tarmac at high speed.
>>> Five talking points from stage four of the Tour de France
After a crash with 800m to go which took down a number of riders including the yellow jersey of Geraint Thomas (Team Sky), just a handful of sprinters remained to contest the sprint finish.
Cavendish was towards the back of the group, and launched his sprint to go around the right hand side of Sagan, who was also moving to the right towards the barriers.
Sagan then appeared to close the gap, using his elbows and forcing Cavendish into the barriers.
Cavendish looked in serious pain as he was tended to by lead-out man Mark Renshaw, with initial medical reports suggesting that he had suffered injuries to his right hand and right shoulder, but had not sustained any fractures.
Around an hour after the end of the stage, race jury president Philippe Marien announced the decision of the jury.
"We decided to disqualify Peter Sagan from the Tour de France as he endangered some of his colleagues seriously in the final metres of the sprint which happened in Vittel," Marien said.
According to UCI rules, riders are not normally disqualified from the race for "irregular sprinting" until their third offence. However there is provision to disqualify a rider on the first offence in "particularly serious cases"
Thank you for reading 10 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
-
-
Rapha Men's Brevet Insulated Long Sleeve Gore-Tex Infinium Jersey review - an excellent all-round winter riding jersey
We tested and reviewed Rapha's men's Brevet Insulated Long Sleeve Gore-Tex Infinium jersey for cycling
-
Techalogic DC-1 Helmet Camera (Front and Rear Facing) review - neat design but too heavy in use
A good value camera that is able to record front and rear at the same time but is a little heavy on a cycling helmet
-
In celebration of Peter Sagan, cycling's rock and roll frontman
As the three-time world champion is set to call time on his career in the WorldTour at the end of 2023, we thought we would take a look back at the glory days
-
Speed Demons of the peloton: The six best sprinters of 2022
We take a look at the standout performers of the fast men and women in the professional scene this year
-
Where next for Mark Cavendish after B & B Hotels-KTM's collapse?
We look at where the ‘Manx Missile’ could find himself next after the collapse of B & B Hotels-KTM
-
British UCI Continental team makes pitch for Mark Cavendish’s signature
Saint Piran boss Ricci Pascoe says he would gladly provide a short term place for Cavendish, if it helped him to achieve Tour de France dream
-
B&B Hotels, the team that was set to sign Mark Cavendish, collapses
Multiple riders left scrambling to find places on alternative teams after demise of French ProTeam confirmed
-
Wout van Aert moots building gravel world championships into 2023 programme
Belgian rider says gravel racing has a ‘great future’ as he considers worlds participation next year
-
B&B Hôtels boss: 'Mark Cavendish wants to be with us. I want him to be with us.'
Team's hunt for sponsors intensifies after missing UCI registration deadline
-
Time running out for B & B Hotels, the team expected to sign Mark Cavendish
Team still without major sponsors as UCI impose deadline of 22 November for team to complete registration for new season
