Bikers Penalized for Covertly Rejoining Tour de Guadeloupe Race Group – Footage Available
In the ongoing Tour de Guadeloupe, Dutch cyclists Tenniglo Niels and Huub Van Kapel have been disqualified for their involvement in a cheating scandal. The incident, which involved taking shortcuts and holding onto cars to avoid pedaling the full course, was caught on video and the riders were identified by their race numbers [1][2][3].
The president of the Guadeloupe Islands Regional Cycling Committee, Frédéric Théobald, emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating that cycling is a sport that requires pedaling and holding onto handlebars, and anything else is dangerous [1]. Cheating, while not necessarily widespread, occurred multiple times during this event, leading to additional penalties [1].
The penalties for violating race and UCI rules were immediate disqualification from the race, fines imposed on the offenders, and a downgrade in the UCI world rankings, affecting their professional standing [1]. Specifically, Tenniglo Niels and Huub Van Kapel were fined 100 Swiss francs and deducted 20 points from the UCI ranking [1].
The incident was not the first of its kind in the Tour de Guadeloupe. There were reports and video footage of riders holding onto team cars during the race, posing significant safety risks [1]. Frédéric Théobald called the incident a "big charade" and said it was "very serious" [1].
The riders were allegedly distanced earlier in the race and hid behind a car before rejoining the peloton. However, they were caught sneaking back into the peloton in the final 40km of a stage, leading to their disqualification [1].
The disqualification was reported in local media and L'Equipe in France. The commissaire excluded the riders during the race, but they continued until they were officially disqualified [1]. The Guadeloupe Islands Regional Cycling Committee has promised further punishment for riders caught cheating [1].
Tenniglo Niels and Huub Van Kapel, Dutch riders from the RC Jan Van Arckel club team, were disqualified from the Tour de Guadeloupe after stage 2. The race takes place in Guadeloupe, a French overseas region in the Caribbean, where a number of French teams also participate [1].
As the Tour de Guadeloupe continues, the UCI and the local cycling committee are committed to maintaining integrity and safety in the race. Frédéric Théobald warned of more sanctions to be announced the following morning [1]. The disqualification serves as a reminder that cheating will not be tolerated in professional cycling.
References: [1] Local Media Report [2] L'Equipe Report [3] UCI Announcement
Sports, such as road cycling, are intended to be challenging and fair competitions. In the Tour de Guadeloupe, Dutch riders Tenniglo Niels and Huub Van Kapel were disqualified for cheating, which included taking shortcuts and holding onto cars, affecting their UCI world rankings and professional standing.
