France’s Arnaud Demare won the fourth stage of the Tour de France and took the green sprinters jersey on a day that saw the winner of the last five green jerseys, Peter Sagan, kicked out of the race.
Sagan made heavy contact with British sprinter Mark Cavendish in the sprint to the line and appeared to elbow him right before Cavendish crashed into the barriers and then to the pavement within a few hundred metres of the finish line.
Cavendish wasn’t happy with the contact he received from Sagan, who he felt hit him with an extended elbow.
“If he came across that is one thing but I am not a fan of him putting his elbow out like that,” Cavendish vented after the stage had finished.
Race organisers appeared to agree and disqualified Sagan from the 2017 Tour hours after the finish of the stage.
“Peter Sagan is disqualified from the 2017 Tour de France after today’s tumultuous sprint in Vittel,” race jury president Philippe Marien told reporters.
He cited Article 12 of the International Cycling Union (UCI) rules, which states that any rider making a wilful obstruction “against one of the 1st 10 riders placed” faces elimination.
In 2010, Cavendish’s then lead-out man Mark Renshaw of Australia was kicked out of the race for headbutting New Zealand’s Julian Dean in a sprint.
Yellow jersey holder Geraint Thomas crashed earlier in the finale but since the incident occurred within the final three kilometres, he will be credited with the same time as the winner.
Sagan had finished the bunch sprint in second but when he was disqualified it moved Alexander Kristoff into second and Andra Greipel into third.
Australia’s Michael Matthews was in the bunch finish as well and finished the stage in seventh place.
Matthews is level with reigning champion Chris Froome in the general classification, 12 seconds behind Thomas.
Team BMC’s Australia star Richie Porte failed to make any dent in the gap to Froome or Thomas and is 47 seconds adrift of the leaders in 19th overall.
Porte was around Thomas when his crash happened and was thankful not to lose any time because of the three kilometre rule before suggesting he may launch an assault on stage five.
“It wasn’t so hard but it was pretty stressful there in the final. There were a couple of big crashes. Thank god for the three kilometre rule,” Porte said.
“I’m super motivated for tomorrow. All of the guys in the team are motivated for tomorrow as well. I think we just have to see how the race goes but I expect it to be absolutely full gas. It’s the first big test of the Tour de France in 2017.”
Stage five will begin in Vittel and end with a Category One climb to La Planche Des Belles Filles that will last almost six of the stage’s 160.5 kilometres.
Albo
Guest
Yep ! Having now watched the replays a few more times, I'm now thinking Sagan might have been a bit stiff ? Seems to be a fine line as who might have been at fault here . Sagan coming out seemed to have had the line, with Cav coming from back and inside with a gap now not quite big enough ? And with all this happening at maximum speed the accident was probably inevitable. Apportioning the blame is the query. Not convinced it was all Sagan's fault and therefore the penalty now seems harsh. The upshot is that the battle for the Green jersey now has been diminished with both these great riders on their way home .
PB
Guest
Yet again we see the arrogance, double standards and total lack of anything vaguely resembling consistency from the the incompetent UCI. Without doubt the worst governing body in sport. The worst offender in this incident was Cavendish, trying to go through a gap that just wasn't there. As for what Sagan did - total disqualification?? For that??
Da Spoon
Guest
The DQ clearly benefits the French who might now win a jersey. I don't think Cavendish wanted to see Sagan DQ'd and declined to comment on it, leaving others to judge. The sprint competition is now de-valued somewhat through the loss of arguably its 2 biggest stars. In my view the initial time and points penalty was sufficient punishment for Sagan if indeed there needed to be any.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Hard to believe this event still has any credibility after yet another controversy. What a waste of time and space.
jameswm
Roar Guru
There was before Sagan veered across.
DT
Guest
To my eyes it appears Sagan just put his elbow out to protect himself. Hard to see much contact from the overhead shot. Maybe he felt Cavendish beside and behind him and wanted to create some space. Either way, there wasn't any room there.
Jon
Roar Rookie
Having watched the front on it looked like Cav was already in trouble before the elbow came out. I don't think you can discount Cav's role in the incident. He made a very risky move to try to sneak through between Sagan and the barrier. The gap closed and he had no where to go. Not saying he deserved to crash out of the race. You never like to see that, but I don't think it was just Sagan's fault there. As for the elbow, it doesn't look good. But was it put out by Sagan to collect Cav or a reaction to contact already made between the two? Can understand why they would kick him out after watching the footage. Maybe it is a bit harsh, but it was quite a nasty incident. Apparently Sagan is appealing the decision, but I'd be surprised if they change their decision.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Albo - Cavendish is out.
Brad
Guest
The other sprinters will be happy, thats about 10 stage wins up for grabs now without those two and also the green jersey
Albo
Guest
It was an extremely negligent move by Sagan that caused a very dangerous situation that could have ended up being much worse for the cyclists involved. Not sure how Cavendish and others have recovered ? Whether that warranted expulsion from the tour , I am not sure ? But the riders need to be protected from cowboy behaviour, and as such I am happy to go with the judiciary verdict on this occasion.
Big Steve
Guest
An absolutely crazy decision. I am struggling to think of a more ridiculous judiciary ruling in recent times. Grivko got the same for punching Kittel in the face. Massive over reaction and how Dimension Data were able to appeal the initial ruling and get him kicked is even more amazing.