Competitors expelled from Tour de Guadeloupe after secretly rejoining main racing group – Footage Available
The Tour de Guadeloupe, a popular cycling race held in the French Caribbean region, has seen two riders from the RC Jan Van Arckel club team disqualified after an incident during stage 2 of the competition.
Tenniglo Niels and Huub Van Kapel were caught sneaking back into the peloton in the final 40km of the stage, allegedly hiding behind a car before rejoining the race. The video evidence of this incident went viral, with the riders identified by their race numbers.
According to Frédéric Théobald, the president of the Guadeloupe Islands Regional Cycling Committee, the commissaire excluded the riders during the race. The consequences for their actions were swift and severe.
The two riders were disqualified from the race, fined 100 Swiss francs, and had 20 points deducted from their UCI ranking. The disqualification was reported in local media and L'Equipe in France.
UCI rules state that riders must pedal and hold only the handlebars, making such cheating dangerous and unacceptable. The incident sparked broader scrutiny, with other riders caught holding onto cars also facing penalties. The organizers plan further sanctions for other confirmed cheating cases, underscoring the seriousness with which such violations are treated in the event.
The penalties for cheating in the Tour de Guadeloupe include immediate disqualification from the race, monetary fines, UCI ranking points deductions, potential further disciplinary measures by UCI following race reports, and public censure by race officials. This case serves as a strong deterrent for cheating in cycling competitions at this level.
Théobald called the incident a "big charade" and "very serious," emphasizing the need for fair play in the sport. Tenniglo Niels and Huub Van Kapel have yet to react to the disqualification.
[1] Local Media Report: [Link] [2] L'Equipe Report: [Link] [3] UCI Rules: [Link] [4] Tour de Guadeloupe Official Website: [Link] [5] Cycling News: [Link]
Sports enthusiasts following the Tour de Guadeloupe were shocked by the disqualification of Tenniglo Niels and Huub Van Kapel, after they were caught cheating during stage 2 of the competition. Their unacceptable actions, which included sneaking back into the peloton and holding onto a car, echoed across various sports news outlets, including local media and L'Equipe in France.
