Competitors expelled from Tour de Guadeloupe race for rejoining the main group illegally - Visual Recording
In the ongoing Tour de Guadeloupe 2025, two riders, Tenniglo Niels and Huub Van Kapel, from the RC Jan Van Arckel club team, have faced severe consequences for their actions during stage 2 of the race.
The riders were caught sneaking back into the peloton in the final 40km of the stage, after reportedly hiding behind a car following crashes and punctures earlier in the race. Their shortcut was exposed through videos taken by spectators, which quickly spread across social media, prompting official action.
The commissaire excluded the riders during the race, but they continued racing until their disqualification. The disqualification was reported in local media and French newspaper L'Equipe, and the Guadeloupe Islands Regional Cycling Committee has promised further punishment for riders caught cheating.
Frederic Theobald, the president of the Guadeloupe Islands Regional Cycling Committee, expressed his disapproval, calling the incident a "big charade" and "very serious." He reminded that cycling is a sport that is practised by pedalling and holding onto the handlebars, with no other means of assistance.
The consequences for the riders included disqualification from the race, fines of 100 Swiss francs, and deduction of 20 points from the UCI ranking. The UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale), the sport's governing body, has also initiated investigations into the incident, with potential further sanctions expected.
Other riders were also suspected and caught cheating by holding onto cars during the race, with further penalties expected. The organizers stressed that cycling must be done by pedaling and holding handlebars only, highlighting the dangerous and unacceptable nature of drafting behind vehicles.
As of the current information, Tenniglo Niels and Huub Van Kapel have yet to react to the disqualification. Guadeloupe, a French overseas region in the Caribbean, hosted the Tour de Guadeloupe 2025, which began on Friday.
Sources:
[1] L'Equipe, "Tenniglo Niels et Huub Van Kapel exclus du Tour de Guadeloupe après l'escapade" [2] Cycling Weekly, "Tenniglo Niels and Huub Van Kapel Disqualified from Tour de Guadeloupe After Stage 2" [3] VeloNews, "Tenniglo Niels and Huub Van Kapel Disqualified from Tour de Guadeloupe for Cheating"
Sports enthusiasts around the world are discussing the race results of the Tour de Guadeloupe 2025, as two riders, Tenniglo Niels and Huub Van Kapel, have been disqualified from the race for cheating. Their unsportsmanlike conduct, which included sneaking back into the peloton and drafting behind vehicles, has been condemned by officials and the cycling community.
