It just seems like Sky is crashing down after more Tour de France misfortune for Froome and Co
Team Sky’s hopes of winning the 2018 Tour de France with either Geraint Thomas or Chris Froome suffered a blow on Sunday night after one of their key domestiques, the Italian Gianni Moscon, was excluded from the race for hitting another rider in the face.
Moscon swung an arm at Elie Gesbert (Fortuneo-Samsic), a young French rider, in the opening kilometre of stage 15 from Millau to Carcassonne.
Video-footage was reviewed by the race officials, in which Thomas and Froome safely maintained their positions at the top of the general classification.
The officials’ report said that Moscon had been excluded for a “particularly serious act of aggression”. It was unclear whether or how he had been provoked.
Team Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford said he supported and accepted the decision, adding that Moscon was desperately disappointed in his behaviour and knew that he had let himself, the team and the race down.
“We will address this incident with Gianni once the Tour is complete and decide then if any further action should be taken,” Brailsford said in a written statement. “I would like to offer my sincere apologies to both Elie Gesbert and Team Fortuneo-Samsic for this unacceptable incident.”
Brailsford will be furious. Not only do Thomas and Froome lose a key helper for the third week, the incident is hardly going to help relations with the locals. Sky have been booed by spectators all their way around France during this Tour.
Nor is this the first time Moscon has been in trouble with the authorities. The 24year-old was already on a final warning after a string of misdemeanours over the past few years.
Thomas has addressed the booing which he and his teammates have received during this Tour, saying he did not feel that he had done anything to deserve it.
With the peloton enjoying their final rest day yesterday ahead of the start of the Pyrenees today, Team Sky will hold a press conference to field questions about their leadership dynamic. — The Daily Telegraph