Disqualified Vincenzo Nibali showed "regrettable attitude", says Vuelta a España boss
Astana team leader was caught on camera holding onto a car to close the gap to the peloton on stage two of this year's Vuelta a España


Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) has paid a high price for taking an express ride on stage two at the Vuelta a España.
After announcing the decision to disqualify Nibali, the race director said he had "never seen anything similar" to the Italian's decision to hold onto an Astana team car, and lamented the rider's "regrettable attitude".
Nibali took hold of Astana's turquoise team car with 16 kilometres left to be able to join the leaders' group. He made it, but later lost contact on the closing climb to Caminito del Rey.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSQW8OX8VqA
He finished in 31st, at 1-38 minutes down from stage winner and new overall leader Esteban Chaves (Orica-GreenEDGE), and 1-02 back from top favourite Nairo Quintana (Movistar) – but his result is now null after the decision to expel him from this year's Vuelta.
After the race jury saw the video of the incident, it sent the Sicilian home along with the sports director, Alexandre Shefer, who was driving the car.
"We've seen the video. They tried to search in the rules, all the possibilities, but you know the decision, to expel the rider," Vuelta race director Javier Guillén told journalists after the stage finish.
"I agree with the decision, because I think his attitude is regrettable."
Nibali won the Vuelta in 2010 and the other two grand tours – the Giro d'Italia in 2013 and the Tour de France in 2014. He was one of the big stars to line up when the race began yesterday in Marbella along with Chris Froome (Team Sky), Quintana, Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing) and others.
He is no stranger to controversy, however. At the Tour, he blamed Froome for a crash in the first week. In the final week, he attacked to an eventual win on the La Toussuire mountain stage, while Froome in the yellow jersey had a mechanical problem.
On the roads through Andalusia, Nibali crashed with several others at 30 kilometres to race in the 158.7-kilometre stage. He chased with his team-mates, but hovered around 1-34 minutes with 20 kilometres left to go. Putting his hand on the car door meant that he closed the gap quicker, but he had to face the consequences when the jury saw the YouTube video making its way around the internet.
"There is no other possibility — this image is bad for cycling, for the sport. The consequences of this decision are bad for the Vuelta, we have lost a big rider," Guillén continued.
"Any other decision would be hard to understand. The rules have to be followed. We have seen the images, I have never seen anything similar before. We respect the UCI jury's call on this — we are sorry for what has happened."
Thank you for reading 5 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
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
-
No joy for Yates after Giro d'Italia victory: five talking points from stage 14
Yates won the stage, but he wanted to win the race
By Stephen Puddicombe • Published
-
Men's Velocio LUXE bib shorts review
They're as good as the price demands, quickly becoming the go-to bib shorts
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published
-
Miguel Ángel López forced to abandon Giro d'Italia on stage four
Astana-Qazaqstan rider suffering from hip injury
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Joe Dombrowski 'on track' for the Giro d'Italia, his 'favourite race'
The Astana-Qazaqstan rider ready to support team and look for opportunities in Italy
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'Top three in the Tour de France is a goal for me and the team': Alexey Lutsenko's ambitious plan
The Kazakh rider finished seventh at the 2021 Tour and second at the Critérium du Dauphiné
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Vincenzo Nibali compared to Zlatan Ibrahimović by impressed Astana-Qazaqstan DS: 'He has some surprises in store'
The Italian last won a race in October, his first in more than two years
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published
-
'It's like coming back home': Miguel Ángel López on returning to Astana after Movistar contract termination
The Colombian climber has set himself the challenge of winning the Giro d'Italia in 2022
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Vincenzo Nibali: 'My final year? I haven't made a decision yet'
The Italian returns to Astana for 2022, but hasn't yet figured out whether it will be his swansong
By Jonny Long • Published
-
Miguel Ángel López returns to Astana following turbulent year with Movistar
The Colombian climber had his contract terminated by Movistar after he abandoned the Vuelta a España 2021
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Astana reveal new name for 2022 as headline sponsor Premier Tech pulls out of team
The Kazakhstani team has been through some major upheaval in recent years, including some unusual leadership changes
By Alex Ballinger • Published