Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale) has been disqualified from Paris-Nice after being seen taking a tow from his team car on today’s opening stage of the race. The Frenchman took the tow after a crash 22 kilometres from the finish line in Bois d’Arcy.
The race organisers confirmed the news in a tweet afterwards saying: “Romain Bardet out of the race by decision of the race jury”
After getting back on his bike following the crash, Bardet could be seen by millions of TV viewers riding alongside his team car on a number of occasions, hanging onto the car as a mechanic leaned out and appeared to fix his bike.
In an incredible stage, Frenchman Arnaud Demare (FDJ) took the win beating his compatriot Julian Alaphilippe (Quick Step Floors). The two had been part of the lead group on a day when the race was blown apart by crosswinds.
AG2R La Mondiale’s General Manager Vincent Lavenu later spoke about the exclusion of his rider Bardet saying: “It is our fault, it is even my fault because I was driving. It’s like football, when the referee makes a decision, we submit to it.”
AG2R La Mondiale will also have to pay a fine of 200 CHF and Julien Jurdie’s car has been excluded from the race without the vehicle being replaced.
#ICYMI Here you can see the reason why @romainbardet was disqualified by the jury of #ParisNice pic.twitter.com/YyaSN3kWCu
— World Cycling Stats (@wcstats) March 5, 2017
Unfortunate as the race is made better by the talent riders like Bardet. I’m sure he’ll be feeling pretty shit about getting kicked out. With 24km to go he would have lost a tonne of time.
Was he supposed to stop to get the bike fixed? I’ve seen this happen before with no action taken against the rider. Not sure what the actual UCI rule is regarding this ‘mechanic fixing a bike while riding’ situation.
Should have a neutral mechanic car,that would end this carry on
Joke.
WTF! I have watched this several times now, this is normal get your bike adjusted shit!
unjustified…
Didn’t see anything wrong based on the footage that was shown.
Idiots that known nothing crying unfair. He deserves the day, You are not allowed to get a tow end of story. That’s cycle racing it’s a hard unforgiving sport.
Best downhill rider on the planet.
Watched it live. Harsh decision imo.
Ironic when one considers that an identical complaint was made about Armand Demaré after winning last year’s Milan-San Remo & he won today!
That looks like a rather lame decision.
Richard Stevenson
Conor
Strange rule – enforced one time, looked over the next. Strange considering the ruling is black and white for what can/ should be a case by case rule. Would’ve been good to see him in this race.