Peter Sagan has been forced to abandon the 70th Vuelta a España.
The Tinkoff Saxo rider was knocked off his bike during stage eight by a rider on a Shimano Neutral Service motorbike and suffered 'wounds and burns of first and second degree on the left side of his body, from the hip to the lower leg. He also has a contusion on his left forearm with an intra-muscular hematoma.'
Sagan, who was fined three Swiss Francs for raging at the motor bike pilot who has been excluded from the race, was examined by his team's medical staff and the decision was made to withdraw him from the race and send him home for treatment.
Sagan said in a press statement: “Unfortunately, it isn't the first time such an incident happens. Even if motorbikes are forced to go through a group of riders, they should do it very carefully and not recklessly. In my opinion, motorbike drivers don't take the safety of the riders in consideration seriously. Fortunately, my injuries aren't very serious but can you imagine what would have happened if he had ran over me?” asks Peter Sagan before adding:
“If I had crashed alone or with another rider, I would have considered that to be part of the sport. However, being hit by a motorbike of the race organization shouldn't be acceptable. The safety of the riders should be an absolute priority and all vehicle drivers involved in a race must be more attentive. I really hope this incident is the start of a series of necessary changes in the way races are organized
“There was a breakaway in front and, together with a rider from Lotto-Soudal, I was attacking to bridge the gap. Then the group reached us from behind and I was sitting in second place, while another Lotto-Soudal rider came to the front to pull. So, I attacked again to reach him, as he was about ten meters ahead. When I reached him, I signaled to him to go ahead as I was staying on his wheel. I moved to the left and at that moment a motorbike hit me. There was nothing I could do”, he says and continues:
“I didn't even hear the motorbike coming. I find it unacceptable that a motorbike tries to weave its way into the group at such high speed. They accelerate and try to sneak in when they see an empty space. However, they don’t take into consideration that a rider might fall in front of them or change direction. They go extremely fast and the difference of speed compared to the riders is enormous”.
“Last but not least, I go back to the team hotel and I read I was fined 300 francs for insults and threats as well as behavior that damages the image of cycling. I will, obviously, pay it but I consider it unjust."