Julian Alaphilippe lost his Tour de France yellow jersey on stage four after being handed a time penalty.
The Deceuninck - Quick-Step rider was forced to hand the race lead to Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) after he was penalised during a sedate day of racing from Gap to Privas.
There is no official confirmation about why Alaphilippe was punished, but Yates now moves into the race lead.
Reports suggest that Alaphilippe was handed a 20-second penalty for taking a bidon from a roadside helper inside the final 20km of the stage.
According to the Tour organisers, the commissaires made the decision to punish Alaphilippe after he made an "unauthorised supply pick-up."
Video footage has since emerged of Alaphilippe taking a bottle from team staff with around 17km of the stage left to race.
UCI rules state that all feeding outside the feed zones, either from a car or on foot, is strictly forbidden inside the first 30km of a stage and inside the last 20km.
Alaphilippe now slips down to 16th place overall, 16 seconds behind Yates.
Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) now sits second, three seconds behind Yates while Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) is third, seven seconds off the lead.
An official statement from the organisers said: "Following the commissaries' decision, Julian Alaphilippe receives a sanction of 20 seconds for an un-authorised supply pick-up. Adam Yates is the new wearer of the yellow jersey."
>>> How to live stream the Tour de France: watch the Tour de France 2020 from anywhere
UCI regulation 2.3.027 says: "All feeding (from a car and on foot outside of the feeding zones signposted by the organiser) is strictly forbidden: during the 30 first and last 20 kilometres; in the last 500 meters before a sprint counting for a secondary classification (points classification, king of mountain classification or others), bonus sprint, feeding zone; in the first 50 meters after a sprint counting for a secondary classification (points classification, king of mountain classification or others), bonus sprint, feeding zone; on descents of mountains listed on the mountain classification; in any other area specified by the organiser or the commissaires panel.
"The commissaires panel may adapt the distances mentioned above, depending on atmospheric conditions and the category, type and length of the race. Such a decision must be communicated to the followers through radio-tour."
Alex is the digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter and now as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output.
Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) and joining CW in 2018, Alex has covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers.
Away from journalism, Alex is a national level time triallist, avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
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