Rider kicked off Tour de France for hitching a lift in another team's car
Eduardo Sepulveda of Bretagne-Séché Environnement is disqualified from the Tour de France for taking a lift in a Ag2r-La Mondiale car
Tour de France juries are known to be harsh every now and again, but Bretagne-Séché Environnement rider Eduardo Sepulveda can have few complaints after grabbing a lift for a few hundred metres on stage 14.
The Argentinian was disqualified at the finish of stage for hopping in a team car on the final climb up to Mende – but not his own car, one of rival French team Ag2r-La Mondiale.
>>> “I’m quite pleased”: Steve Cummings on his indescribable Tour win
Sepulveda's manager Emmanuel Hubert confirmed after the race that his rider had been disqualified and said the 24-year-old had mechanical problems on the climb.
"At the top of the climb he broke his chain and was rescued by the Ag2r team, who gave him a wheel thinking that was the problem," Hubert said.
"He was hidden by the car and I didn't see him. I stopped 100 metres further up and Eduardo, instead of coming to the car on foot, covered the 100 metres on the backseat of the AG2R car. There is nothing to say. The rules applied."
>>> Chris Froome hit with urine as Tour de France fans get nasty
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Sepulveda, who was sitting 19th in the general classification, reportedly hitched a lift because he couldn't walk up the hill, which reached gradients of 11 per cent, in his cleats.
But his little manoeuvre didn't go unnoticed as the race jury fined him 200 Swiss Francs and booted him off the Tour.
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
Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.
-
Knog Blinder 1300 review - excellent visibility for you and other road users
Solid performance, great mounting options and a respectable price point make the Blinder a great competitor for long nights this winter
By Joe Baker Published
-
Everything you want to know about the Q Factor
What it is and why it matters, how to measure it, what the Q stands for, and more
By Tyler Boucher Published
-
Where next for Mark Cavendish after B & B Hotels-KTM's collapse?
We look at where the ‘Manx Missile’ could find himself next after the collapse of B & B Hotels-KTM
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Nairo Quintana to leave Arkéa-Samsic, six weeks after signing new contract
The Colombian is currently appealing his Tour de France disqualification
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'I admit my mistake to change course, but there is nothing intentional': Nacer Bouhanni apologises to Jake Stewart after irregular sprint
Nacer Bouhanni has apologised to British rider Jake Stewart after shoving him into the barriers at the Cholet-Pays de la Loire on Sunday (March 28).
By Tim Bonville-Ginn Published
-
Nacer Bouhanni said he would have won Tour de la Provence sprint if he wasn't pushed into barriers by Ballerini
Nacer Bouhanni claims he would have won the final stage of the Tour de la Provence if it wasn't for Davide Ballerini forcing him towards the barriers
By Tim Bonville-Ginn Published
-
Nairo Quintana’s team Arkéa-Samsic miss out on Giro d’Italia
Nairo Quintana’s team will have to redraw their 2021 schedule after being left out of this year’s Giro d’Italia.
By Alex Ballinger Published
-
'This will be my fifth WorldTour race - it’s crazy how things unfold’: Connor Swift reacts to riding his first Tour de France
Connor Swift has been chosen to race alongside yellow jersey contender Nairo Quintana for Arkea-Samsic in the 2020 Tour de France, which kicks off in Nice on Saturday (August 29).
By Alex Ballinger Published
-
Connor Swift will make Tour de France debut in support of Nairo Quintana
Connor Swift has become the third confirmed Brit to ride the 2020 Tour de France, racing in support of Nairo Quintana.
By Alex Ballinger Published
-
Nairo Quintana will restart season at Mont Ventoux one–day race
Nairo Quintana will make his return to the peloton at the Mont Ventoux one-day race, his team have confirmed.
By Alex Ballinger Published