Wout Poels has revealed particulars of the bodily aggression he confronted from Movistar on the latest Volta a Catalunya and the way he made an official criticism to the UCI commissaires.
The Dutchman had run-ins with each Iván García Cortina and Nairo Quintana on the penultimate stage of the race on Saturday, the powerful 155km mountain day to Queralt, that left him shocked and indignant.
Talking to AD.nl’s biking podcast In Koers, Poels stated he made a criticism in opposition to García Cortina after being punched within the arm, whereas later within the day he was elbowed by Quintana.
“On the penultimate day, there was a technical descent within the stage after 13km. Everybody desires to take a seat within the entrance, so it was crowded,” Poels stated, in accordance with WielerFlits.
“Then Iván García Cortina from Movistar intervened simply earlier than the highest. He sat up and punched me in my higher arm. He hit me actually arduous, and it damage fairly a bit. So, I then had an enormous argument with him. I requested why he did that. He stated it is at all times the identical tune with me. However I by no means journey uphill with him, as a result of he is normally already dropped.”
Poels stated his criticism in opposition to the Spaniard resulted in a “disappointing” small advantageous and UCI factors deduction.
“I did not need to let him get away with that,” he stated.
“We discuss quite a bit with the CPA concerning the security of biking. We regularly criticise organisers as a result of the routes are usually not protected after which you could have a rider who simply throws a punch.
“I discovered the jury and filed a criticism. He acquired away with a advantageous of CHF300 and a few UCI factors deduction. That was a bit disappointing to me.”
Afterward throughout the identical stage, Poels was on the receiving finish of Nairo Quintana‘s elbow and responded with a quip concerning the Colombian’s constructive check for Tramadol on the 2022 Tour de France.
“We rode on a closing climb, and I felt good. I wished to maneuver up, to be near Tadej Pogacar, however nobody let me in. So I made a decision to journey behind Enric Mas, subsequent to Quintana,” Poels stated.
“That is annoying for him, however I wasn’t driving so near him that I attempted to push him away. At one level he elbowed me and I acquired into an argument with him. I stated that he was positively on Tramadol once more, which is why he was appearing so aggressively.”
There has so been no response from Movistar, García Cortina and Quintana. Racing and rivalry can result in rigidity within the peloton however UCI guidelines forbid bodily contact.
Geraint Thomas provided oblique help for his former teammate, calling Quintana “a f*cking little rat” on his newest podcast and suggesting he shuold not be racing after his constructive check for Tramadol in 2022.
Poels’ incidents weren’t the one bust-ups on the day as one other Dutch rider additionally acquired right into a bodily spat through the queen stage, with the incident caught on digicam.
On the way in which up the mid-stage climb of the Coll de Pradell – shortly after a Visma-Lease A Bike soigneur inadvertently took out a number of riders after not shifting out of the highway shortly sufficient – Robert Gesink was caught on digicam punching Kern Pharma rider Jorge Gutiérrez within the hip because the pair rode in the direction of the rear of the peloton.
It is unclear if any criticism was made in opposition to the veteran climber, nonetheless, or if any fines have been handed out for the motion.
