Cycling: Ag2r Throw Out Two Vuelta Riders For Car Tow

French cycling team Ag2r-La Mondiale were forced to withdraw two riders from the Vuelta a Espana on Tuesday after they were caught using a team car to gain ground

MADRID, Sept 5, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 05th Sep, 2017 ) - French cycling team Ag2r-La Mondiale were forced to withdraw two riders from the Vuelta a Espana on Tuesday after they were caught using a team car to gain ground.

Alexandre Geniez and Nico Denz were seen on videos released on social media holding onto a door and the roof rack of the vehicle during Sunday's punishing climb up the Sierra Nevada. "The management of the Ag2r-La Mondiale team has decided to withdraw Alexandre Geniez and Nico Denz from the Vuelta a Espana," the team said in a statement.

"The Ag2r-La Mondiale team sincerely apologises to the organisers and the public for the unsportsmanlike behaviour of our riders, which is contrary to our values and our ethics.

" However, it isn't the first time Ag2r have been caught in a car tow scandal as team leader Romain Bardet was thrown out of March's Paris-Nice for using a team car to allow him to make up lost ground from a crash.

Four-time Grand Tour winner Vincenzo Nibali was also thrown out of the Vuelta in 2015 for a similar incident. Nibali, who lies second in the general classification, will be aiming not to lose too much time on race leader Chris Froome when the race recommences with a 40.2km time trial from Circuito de Navarra to Logrono later on Tuesday.