Cycling: The fans went to the barricades, the Bora-hansgrohe team protested. July 4th of this year's Tour de France caused a lot of discussion. Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) fell on stage four and retired. In the mass sprint, Peter Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe) is said to have brought him down – with an elbow blow. The world champion was disqualified but protested his innocence. Those affected have now agreed to end the legal dispute.
Detailed video analyzes prove unfortunate racing accident
The cycling world split in two when Peter Sagan was banned from the Tour de France on July 4, 2017. Some sided with the jury and found the disqualification correct, while others felt the punishment was unjustified. When the race continued the next day and the world champion actually started his journey home, it was clear that the die had been cast. Although the Bora-hansgrohe team tried to lodge a protest, it was hopeless. Despite the TV pictures that were already available at the time, the Tour de France jury made the wrong decision. As Velomotion explained in detail on the day of the accident, Didn't Peter Sagan elbow Mark Cavendish. The officials are now admitting their mistake – but exactly five months too late. In the run-up to the CAS hearing, Peter Sagan, Bora-hansgrohe and the UCI agreed not to pursue the case further in court. After reviewing the evidence, everyone involved now agrees that it was just an unfortunate racing accident.
UCI President David Lappartient: “This case showed how important and difficult the work of the UCI commissaires is. Therefore, starting next season, the UCI would like to appoint a “Support Commissaire” with special expertise in video analysis to support the jury at the most important UCI WorldTour races.”
World Champion Peter Sagan: "The past is already forgotten. It's about making our sport better in the future. I am pleased that my case has shown how difficult the work of the commissaires is and that the UCI has recognized the need for action. It is nice to see that there are now positive developments, because fair and understandable decisions are very important for our sport, even when emotions run high.”
Bora-hansgrohe team manager Ralph Denk: “It was always our goal to show that Peter didn't cause Mark Cavendish to fall. That was Peter's position from the start. Nobody wants drivers to fall or get injured, but that in Vittel, that was a racing accident that can always happen in a sprint. My job as a team manager is to protect my riders and sponsors and I think that's what we did as a team. My view was confirmed that neither Peter nor Bora-hansgrohe made a mistake.”
