Australian Robbie McEwen has hit out at what he called an unfair disqualification from the third stage of the Tour de France, held over 212,5km from La Chataigneraie to Tours on Monday.
McEwen, of the Davitamon team, finished third in the sprint but was soon disqualified to the back of the peloton after race officials ruled he had barged his way past compatriot Stuart O’Grady.
As stage winner Tom Boonen surged past all the stage contenders to grab his second stage in as many days, McEwen was locked, literally, in a battle with O’Grady, who was on his right side, to get the precious points available for the points classification at the finish line.
McEwen appeared to lean heavily into O’Grady several times, but he later explained he was only doing so to try to stop himself from falling over.
The decision left McEwen tumbling down the points classification from third place to ninth, and he now only has 26 points compared with 70 for green-jersey-wearer Boonen, who has vowed to win it in Paris.
It was no wonder McEwen, who has won the sprinters’ top prize twice, in 2002 and last year, claimed he had been unfairly treated.
”I don’t understand the decision. I told the commissaire [official], who’s probably never done a sprint, I had to do it to stop falling,” McEwen told French television.
”The arm of O’Grady is on top of my arm. He was leaning on my handlebars and we’re going so fast that all you’re thinking about is trying not to fall.
”I’m not trying to make a complaint against another rider. It’s not so bad if two sprinters make contact, but they [officials] have to look at that.”
O’Grady, for his part, was having none of that.
”It was a bit too much really, too aggressive,” said O’Grady of his compatriot’s move.
”I was heading towards the line and then I suddenly saw Robbie McEwen’s head on my shoulder,” added O’Grady, who has worn the yellow jersey and won two stages in previous Tours.
Despite McEwen’s claims, the jury saw it otherwise.
Jean-Michel Voets, who has been a race official for 20 years and is presiding over the jury on the Tour for the second year running, said his three other jury members were unanimous in excluding the former Brisbane racer from the third stage, which was won in style by Boonen.
”We relegated Robbie McEwen to the back of the peloton for what we call an irregular sprint,” he said after the race.
”The whole world saw what happened and we believe we made the right decision. We have to make these kind of decisions to protect the image of cycling, especially on the Tour de France.” — Sapa-AFP