Watch: Rider somehow avoids disqualification after hopping onto pavement and cutting corner across grass
Cyclocross star Mathieu van der Poel puts his off-road skills to use
Cyclocross star Mathieu van der Poel was lucky to escape disqualification from a road race in Belgium after putting his cross skills to use by bunny hopping onto a pavement and cutting a corner across some grass.
Van der Poel, who took overall victory in the cyclocross World Cup last winter, was taking part in the Dwars door het Hageland on Friday when he decided to take unusual measures to regain contact with the bunch as he found himself a few metres off the back.
Spotting an opportunity to take a slight short-cut through a corner, Van der Poel hopped onto the pavement on the left-hand side of the road, before swing right across the grass and between a couple of signs to get back into the peloton.
According to UCI regulations the “Use of sidewalks/pavements, paths or cycle paths that do not form part of the course” can be punished with a 200CHF fine and/or disqualification from the race.
However Van der Poel was not disqualified for his actions, as he abandoned the one-day race before the finish in Diest. The race was won by Latvian champion Krists Neilands (Israel Cycling Academy) who crossed the line solo with a 33-second advantage over Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors) who won the sprint for second.
Riders using cycle paths and pavements rather than the road was an area of significant controversy during the 2018 Classics season, with commissaires voicing frustration over the large number of riders breaking the rules during Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, and Luke Rowe being disqualified from the Tour of Flanders for riding on a cycle path behind spectators.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
The UCI has recently introduced video commissaires to help police illegal riding such as this, but with these new commissaires only working on Grand Tours, Monuments, and the World Championships, there would have been no video commissaire in place for this 1.1-level race.
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.
-
TV coverage of a bike race can leave you with a strange impression of a country
TV footage is deceptive so choose your illusion wisely
By Michael Hutchinson Published
-
Mathieu van der Poel dominates in Leuven to win Gravel World Championships
The Dutchman adds another World Championship title to his palmarès as he solos to victory in the Flemish Brabant
By Joseph Lycett Published