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news
Vuelta 2015 Nibali and team car TV stillVideo: Vincenzo Nibali thrown off Vuelta after being towed by team car
Astana’s Vincenzo Nibali has been thrown out of the Vuelta a Espana after being caught on film taking a tow from a team car during yesterday’s Stage 2 to Caminito del Rey.
The Italian, winner of the race in 2010 and one of only six men to have won all three of cycling’s Grand Tours, was caught behind a big crash with around 30 kilometres remaining.
As he tried to limit his losses, helicopter footage showed the Italian at the front of a group of around 20 riders looking to chase back on to the peloton with 17 kilometres or so remaining when his Astana team car drew level with him.
Nibali then held on to the car as it accelerated away from the group he was riding with, the images beamed around the world.
While riders will often take advantage of a so-called sticky bottle offered from a team car to help them rejoin the group after a crash, puncture or mechanical incident, commissaires regularly turn a blind eye so long as the assistance is not too blatant.
In Nibali’s case yesterday, however, the aerial footage clearly shows the advantage he gained – and one denied to the other members of the group who were also battling to rejoin the race.
- Vuelta Stage 2: Orica-GreenEdge's Esteban Chaves wins and takes race lead
In a statement, race organisers Unipublic said: “Basing their decision on television images clearly showing an infringement of the rules, the Vuelta race commissaires decided to take him out of the race,” organisers said in a statement.”
The chief commissaire on the race, Bruno Valcic, added: “The film shows clearly that Nibali was clinging to the car for 200 metres.”
Astana sports director Alexander Sheffer has also been expelled from the race, while the team’s second support car will not be allowed to follow the next two stages.
The Kazakh team said it “is sorry for the error, and apologises to the peloton and race organisers for the harm these televised images caused to professional cycling.”
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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50 comments
It is a shame...I like to watch Nibali ride...aggressive, opportunist and just very good.
Astana though, they are like a naughty child who, no matter what he does ends up getting in trouble. I guess they would love a month or two where there was nothing worth reporting about them except maybe a couple of wins...but when you employ dopers...
This happens regulalrly on Road.cc: VIDEO: and no video.
https://twitter.com/Eurosport_FR/status/635520041585373184/video/1
Sorry Cooks - there is a setting that needs to be changed for YouTube video to display on the site that didn't get clicked this time ... it should be showing now.
Is this classed as motor doping?
Well I thought he'd get pinged for it. Big fine plus some time added. But I think DQ is harsh. And it mars the race.
My first thought after only reading the news was "Meh, it can't be THAT bad. Everyone does that".
My first though after watching the video afterwards was: "WTF, that was worse than I could even imagine!"
It's ridiculous that Astana are even trying to defend Nibali, he totally deserved being thrown out of the race. You have to give credit to him, though: it takes skill and a great deal of bravery to ride like that
He seemed to be going well and was going to get back in. For all we know the car could have pulled along side, Nibali holds on to talk then the DS decides to speed up. Pretty daft from Nibali but taking a tow at that speed is pretty scary, the bike becomes very sensitive and hard to control. The DS is more responsible.
Punishment should have been last place for the day and a fine and kick off the driver only. That would have been enough.
He had to hold onto the car to steady his arm...its very difficult to use an hypodermic needle otherwise.
Surely there is no need for such things. I hear the steak is rather good in Spain this time of year.
Makes a Froome double a bit more likely. I'm sure that will be popular with some on the forum.
You are correct there should be no need, however the actions of the dopers and the inaction of the UCI leave the sport with an unfortunate legacy, that often seems to offer a sanctuary of sorts for the guilty and to sadly cast doubt upon those who have never failed a dope test. And creates very high levels of scepticim.
"I hear the steak is rather good in Spain this time of year." Very probably, Contador loves the stuff, however didn't he fail a dope test on the subject?
"Makes a Froome double a bit more likely" Froomey has never failed a test presented suspicious sats and has been extrenly open in providing information ( Even though the army of armchair experts out there do not appear to have a clue how to interpret them) with more to come apparently, I therefore suggest that one is only likley to be popular with those with delusions of expertise.
I suspect Niballi did this on purpose.
Knowing that his slim chance of leading Astana's team were now blown and that he would have to play second fiddle to Fabio Aru I reckon he did this so he could have the next 3 weeks off.
Sounds odd. But it sounds very like Astana.
What a year for Astana
But a shame to lose Nibali like this, it would have been great viewing seeing how and if he'll claw that time back. All sorts of rules usually get bent to allow riders to get to the peleton after a crash or mechanical. I imagine its quite difficult to work out what you can and cannot do.
I think Astanas methods for "clawing time back" are fairly clear - the lack of contrition was pretty disgusting - remind me why they have a UCI licence again.
Still makes more interesting viewing with these pantomime villaines in the mix
Because they have enough money to pay off the UCI.
Presumably they had enough left over to pay off the Licence Commission who gave them the licence against the wishes of the UCI...
I wouldn't believe all you read about the UCI, they don't really have the best track record, do they.
It gets more comical the more I watch it.
Your not wrong. Lmao. Seriously go to you tube and watch it, the mans got rocks in his head.
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