Niels Tenniglo and Huub van Kapel, coming out for the RC Jan van Arckel team, had fallen behind in the game on Sunday. They thought they were smart to take advantage of the fact that the peloton was finishing local laps. That is why they took a seat at some cars and waited until the peloton passed again, and then hooked up.
Spotted by jury chairman
They didn’t have a smartly devised trick, but they didn’t pay attention. They were spotted by various spectators – one of whom also filmed them – and even the jury chairman had them in the bulls.
“Shortly thereafter I received two video documents that confirmed this great sham,” said Frédéric Théobald, chairman of the cycling round, afterwards. “This is very serious. The commissioner excluded them during the race. They still drove through, but were subsequently disqualified. A report will also be drawn up for the UCI.”
Even more punishment
Tennislo and Van Kapel were not the only ones who were punished. For example, there were many drivers on team leaders cars. “I would like to remind everyone that cycling is a sport that you exercise by kicking and holding your steering wheel,” says Théobald.