UCI race officers have relegated Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan) and Arnaud Démare (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) from the highest 5 to the again of the bunch following the stage 12 dash into Villeneuve-sur-Lot at Tour de France.
Démare crossed the road in third place behind stage winner Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) and runner-up Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) however was later relegated to the again of the primary area in 67th place, and so Pascal Ackermann (Israel-Premier Tech) moved as much as third place.
Cavendish was additionally among the many high sprinters on the day, initially crossing the end line in fifth place, however was later relegated to 68th place.
Video footage of the dash confirmed Démare squeeze Van Aert in the direction of the obstacles on the correct facet of the highway within the ultimate metres of the race.
Cavendish was additionally punished for altering traces from the center of the highway to the correct within the closing few hundred metres as he tried to keep away from Démare’s lead out man Dan McLay, who slowed down in the midst of the highway.
Tour de France organiser ASO introduced the choice a couple of minutes after following, with a proper communique later explaining that the 2 sprinters have been relegated for “Deviation from the chosen line that obstructs or endangers one other rider or irregular dash.’
They have been each additionally fined 500 Swiss Francs and docked 13 factors within the inexperienced jersey factors classification.
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