A number of former sprinters have condemned the decision of the Tour de France race jury to disqualify Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) from the race.
Sagan was kicked out of the race following a clash with Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) on stage four of the race, sending the tumbling to the ground at high speed.
>>> Dimension Data boss doubts Mark Cavendish will be able to start Tour de France stage five
The two-time world champion was disqualified from the race for, in the opinion of the commissaires, seriously endangering other riders.
Watch: Tour de France stage four highlights
Baden Cooke, who won the green jersey in 2003, described the decision as a “bad decision” and calling Sagan’s actions “unintentional”.
Sending Sagan home was a bad decision. It was unintentional. You often use your elbows to give yourself space to avoid crashing yourself.
— Baden Cooke (@badencooke) July 4, 2017
Robbie McEwen, another Australian former sprinter who won the green jersey in 2002, 2004, and 2005 and was demoted to last place on a stage of the 2005 for headbutting compatriot Stuart O’Grady, also took to Twitter to condemn the decision.
I DON'T agree with the expulsion of @petosagan from @LeTour. DQ on the stage ok, but kicked off the Tour!?! NO.
— Robbie McEwen (@mcewenrobbie) July 4, 2017
McEwen’s opinion that Sagan should have been demoted to last on the stage but not disqualified from the race was shared by Alessandro Petacchi.
Me too @mcewenrobbie
— AlessandroPetacchi (@AlePetacchi) July 4, 2017
Jens Voigt, who rode 17 Tours de France winning three stages, also gave his opinion on events in a lengthy Twitter thread.
Take your time and watch the replay in slowmotion. Then forget about Peter and Cav. Focus on Demarre. He is the first to change trajectoire
— Jens Voigt (@thejensie) July 4, 2017
So when we start punish people- maybe consider him first. His move almost chrashed Bouhanni, he is trying to save himself and moves Sagan
— Jens Voigt (@thejensie) July 4, 2017
Then Sagan moves over to the right and there is no space for nobody left. Its either " be safe and break and loose or maybe win or crash
— Jens Voigt (@thejensie) July 4, 2017
So in my private opinion-the disqualification is too much.I am ok with -80 points in green jersey,last place today and timepenalty for sagan
— Jens Voigt (@thejensie) July 4, 2017
Here you have it, love me or hate me for it.
— Jens Voigt (@thejensie) July 4, 2017
The last rider to be disqualified from the Tour de France for actions in a sprint was Mark Renshaw, who was thrown out of the 2010 Tour for headbutting Julian Dean while leading out Cavendish on stage 11 of the race.
