'We're 180 idiots riding in the way of each other': Tour de France riders give their thoughts on Luke Rowe & Tony Martin disqualification
Riders are fairly unanimous in their agreement that the two riders shouldn't have been thrown out of the Tour de France


The jury's decision to disqualify Luke Rowe (Ineos) and Tony Martin (Jumbo-Visma) for fighting was "harsh" and "over the top" say riders at the 2019 Tour de France.
The two pushed and shoved each other during stage 17 to Gap on Wednesday and after finishing, were sent home.
"This is a very hard decision," Amund Grøndahl Jansen (Jumbo-Visma) told Cycling Weekly. "It's maybe a bit over the top.
"I think with 40 degrees in the third week of the Tour, it's just human to have a reaction sometimes. I know, we're 180 idiots riding in the way of each other for three weeks. Of course at one point, you have an incident.
"Of course it's better it doesn't happen, but it's human to make a mistake. If you are a grown up person, you admit it and you say sorry, and it's over. But I don't think you have to go home at once."
It wasn't only Martin's team-mate, who is racing for the win with Steven Kruijswijk, that thought that they should still be in the Tour for stage 18.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"I think the punishment was a bit harsh," said Ben King (Dimension Data).
"It was wrong. That's obvious. But my first reaction was, you know, if the commentators could see everything that went on in a race, there would be a lot fewer riders and but it said, expelling them from the races, it sets a precedence that that kind of behaviour isn't tolerated and it shouldn't be tolerated.
"My other reaction was, you know, they're adults let them fight. The only issue is that it puts other riders at risk if they're behind them and braking it and acting erratically."
Martin nearly put Rowe off the road and into the fans. Rowe saved himself, but nearly fell over in the process. The jury decided after pulling in all the facts and speaking to the riders.
"It's a bit hard and tough," Roger Kluge (Lotto-Soudal) said.
"That's that's racing, there's a lot of fights for positioning and probably one per cent was seen on the camera, but there's so much more going on during the race.
"If the jury wants to record this then we need a helicopter the whole time over a bunch and then there would be half of us left if they will take out riders by this movement. There are many more [incidents like this] in during the race."
Kluge admitted it was maybe too much by Martin to edge Rowe over to the side.
"It's harsh? Yeah, but that's probably still the only way to to learn or to get better because if it was money or time, then they probably don't mind."
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
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.
-
Can anyone stop Primož Roglič or Juan Ayuso from winning the Giro d’Italia?
Roglič and Ayuso's form suggest they are the two outright favourites for overall victory in Rome next month
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
How to watch Dwars door Vlaanderen 2025: Everything you need to live stream the cobbled Belgian Classic
All the information on broadcasters and live streams for Dwars door Vlaanderen on 2 April, as Wout van Aert, Mads Pedersen, Marianne Vos and Lotte Kopecky take on the cobbles.
By Tom Davidson Last updated
-
'An unprecedented opportunity for brands to be part of the evolution' - Ineos Grenadiers sponsor hunt steps up with sales agency partnership
Sportfive have been employed to find "non-endemic global partners for the team"
By Adam Becket Published
-
'We've all got a little bit extra in us this year' - Ineos Grenadiers recapture 'fighting spirit' with aggressive Paris-Nice display
British team continue to put tumultuous 2024 behind them with momentum and a new found mentality
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Could a TotalEnergies deal be the end of Ineos Grenadiers as we know them?
Reports suggested this week that Ineos could be close to signing a deal with the French petrochemical firm
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'They’re racing with their hearts again' - Robbie McEwen on Ineos Grenadiers' bright start to 2025
The British squad have already won four times in 2025
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers are entertaining so far this year, but how long will it last?
The British WorldTour squad have won four times already in 2025, but more than that, they have been fun. Is this the new dawn?
By Adam Becket Published
-
Caleb Ewan says he was put in a 'bad situation' by Jayco AlUla before he joined Ineos Grenadiers
Ewan joined Ineos Grenadiers in January after spending just one year with Jayco AlUla
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'There's no bull****, that's what I've always liked' - Geraint Thomas's first BC coach Rod Ellingworth on the retiring Welshman
The 2018 Tour de France winner will step away from professional cycling at the end of the season
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'It is time to change goals' - Egan Bernal's coach confirms Ineos Grenadiers exit
'I want to thank all the cyclists I have had the opportunity to coach over the past ten years' Xabier Artetxe says in LinkedIn post
By Tom Thewlis Published