Races judges decided that an Italian sprinter at the Giro d'Italia was doing more than just gesturing with his hands and relegated him to third place at the close of Stage 17 in Tirano on Wednesday.
In the final sprint, Giovanni Visconti (Farnese Vini) appeared to tap Diego Ulissi (Lampre) on the hip then push him aside with his forearm as he passed by along the barricades.
Ulissi slowed down a bit in the commotion as Visconti win the sprint. But the judges don't like cyclists to take their hands off the handlebars like this during a sprint and moved him back to the third position.
Breakaway
The acrimony was surprising, given the fact that Ulissi and Visconti had to cooperate throughout much of the 230km (142 miles) stage to ensure their breakaway survived to the finish.
It marked the biggest win of the 21-year-old's career, and his first at a Giro. Visconti, who at 28 has a longer career, has no victories at a Giro d'Italia.
Meanwhile, Alberto Contador kept his 4:58 lead over his nearest rival, Michele Scarponi (Lampre), as the race leaders finished together in the peloton.
Moving up
Another cyclist in that break, Kanstantsin Sivtsov was another winner on the day, although he didn't compete in the sprint.
The cyclist for HTC-Columbia moved up from 12th to 5th place overall in the General Classification. He had been highly placed in the overall battle for the championship the first week, but faded in the Dolomites.
Jose Rujano dropped to 6th place.
Stage 18's 151km route from Morbegno to San Pellegrino Terme is interrupted by a single climb, the Category 2 Passo di Gandi, near the finish.
Top 5 overall
1. Alberto Contador (Saxo)
2. Michele Scarponi (Lampre) – 4:58
3. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) – 5:45
4. John Gadret (AG2R) – 7:35
5. Kanstantsin Sivtsov – 9:12
See all the results at Giro d'Italia website.
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