Rare scene on the Critérium du Dauphiné. While the peloton was chasing breakaways on the roads to Gap at a rather leisurely pace, Juan Sebastián Molano (UAE) and Hugo Page (Intermarché Wanty Gobert) bickered less than 10 kilometers from the finish. After a lively discussion between the two men, the Colombian sprinter hit the Frenchman. He even reoffended after the arrival…
A gesture that earned him a disqualification despite an apology. “In the final, it was fast and tense. And in the heat of the moment I made a dangerous mistake. I would like to apologize to Hugo Page and all the other runners for what happened. I understand why I was disqualified and I can only say that I regret my action and that I will learn from this mistake,” the Colombian said in a statement.
Page responds on Twitter
Ironically, the Colombian had won the peloton sprint finishing 7th in the Gap stage. A few hours after arriving in Gap, Hugo Page explained this incident. “I didn’t respond to this attack because doing that at 80 km/h downhill is dangerous and there are 150 of us. Falling at this speed can have serious consequences. This is not the image I want to project and I hate violence. Like all cyclists, I represent sponsors and a team that allows me to be at this level and to live my passion. I want to represent them in a beautiful way. I’m happy to have been able to wear this beautiful green jersey and to have sprinted for the last time here. »