New controversy involving a motorcycle on the Tour de France. A few days after two motorcycles slowed Tadej Pogacar (UAE) as he launched an attack in the Col de Joux-Plane, Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) was hit by the following motorcycles.
Wednesday, in the terrible climb of the Col de la Loze, the motorcycle of France Télévisions carrying the consultant Thomas Voeckler would have fallen in the steep slopes. This episode created a traffic jam with following cars. The yellow jersey, Jonas Vingegaard, and his teammate Wilco Kelderman, launched in a crazy comeback behind the winner of the day Félix Gall, had all the trouble to pass the slowdown.
The Tour de France marshals sanctioned Thomas Voeckler and his driver for “breach of the regulations or directives concerning the circulation of vehicles in the race (non-compliance with the press specifications before the summit of the Col de la Loze)”. The sanction is an exclusion for the 18th stage and a fine of 500 Swiss francs each.
Bilbao warned
Thibaut Pinot also paid the price for this stopper worthy of a summer crossover on the roads. “It was shameful. I got stuck for at least 30 seconds, I had the bikes almost falling on me, it was rubbish. It was so steep that motorcycles had to stall. We let the cars pass when there are 15 seconds between the groups, there are things that I don’t understand, ”he fumed.
Note that the rider from Bahrain Victorious Pello Bilbao received an “official warning” for inappropriate behavior towards a spectator. The sixth in the general classification was filmed punching a spectator who was running alongside him on the last pass of the day.
