After the jury of Poppel disqualified and the victory went to Noor Søren Wærenskjold, Pogacar responded fiercely on Instagram. “Congratulations Danny van Poppel, you are the clear stage winner. These types of disqualifications are an absolute joke and not correct. Bad work (from the jury, ed.) … As so often this season.”
Tim Merlier Sprint again to stage victory in Renewi Tour, jury deprives Danny van Poppel stage victory in Germany
What was going on?
Wærenskjold spurted towards the finish on the left, Van Poppel came in the middle, with just behind the Brit Matthew Brennan, who seemed to have extra power. But Van Poppel Week out to the left, so Brennan Klem got between him and Waerenskjold and in the brakes. In protest, he lit his hand.
Van Poppel was the first to cross the line, but cheering for him, because the jury studied the images and made the decision to disqualify Van Poppel. The damage was not corrected with that, because Waerenskjold now got the victory, while Brennan might have finished for Wærenskjold without the maneuver of Van Poppel.
Pogacar was even bothered by the case. On Instagram he posted a finish photo of Van Poppel and called him the justified winner.