Lars Boom (Team LottoNl-Jumbo) has been disqualified from the Tour of Norway after hitting Belgian rider Preben Van Hecke (Sport Vlaanderen – Baloise).
The incident happened on today’s 146-kilometre second stage of the race from Hønefoss to Asker with 28 kilometres remaining. In footage of the clash, the Dutchman and Van Hecke were at the front of the peloton and Boom could be seen throwing a punch at Van Hecke. He then appeared to grab the jersey of the Sport Vlaanderen rider.
In the Communique from the Commissaires panel, Boom was fined 200CHF and eliminated from the race for committing “acts of violence among riders.” Van Hecke was also fined 200CHF for “insults, threats and unseemly behaviour” but avoided disqualification.
“He attacked and we took him back at the top (of the hill),” Boom told procycling.no afterwards. “I said, “Come on, drive on”, and then he slowed up, and I rode on his wheel and almost crashed. I got crazy.”
“Yes, I hit him. I was almost on the ground. It’s not ok to slow down in front of someone like that. I have a little temper, definitely. But that’s also a good thing,” Boom added.
The stage was won by Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) ahead of Sondre Holst Enger (Israel Cycling Academy) with Alex Aranburu (Caja Rural – Seguros RGA) in third. Enger has now taken over the race lead.
And here are 🇳🇱@lars_boom "acts of violence" against 🇧🇪Preben Van Hecke in 🇳🇴@tourofnorway #tourofnorway pic.twitter.com/TdtnKdIsvi
— World Cycling Stats (@wcstats) 17 May 2018
……and i though it was only the Vivax Assist motor he bought in 2015 that was going to get him chucked out of bike races