Warren Barguil (Sunweb) was excluded from the Tour of Spain by his own team. The reason ? The Frenchman did not wait for his leader Wilco Kelderman yesterday after a mechanical problem in the final stage.
The French cyclist Warren Barguil, best climber of the Tour de France, was excluded on Saturday by his team Sunweb from the Tour of Spain for failing to follow the strategy adopted by its leaders, announced the German team.
Barguil (25), who was 13th in the general ranking on Friday night, “admitted openly he did not run according to the team’s objectives”, Sunweb wrote in a statement. At the 7th stage on Friday, the climber did not slow down to help its leader, Dutchman Wilco Kelderman, who suffered a puncture in the final part of the stage and was in the favorites group. Kelderman, 14th overall before excluding Barguil, lost 17 seconds because of this incident, as well as the young Dutch climber Sam Oomen (15th overall).
“I do not understand”, reacted the French cyclist, as he told journalists at his hotel. He said Friday’s attitude was not a serious offense liable to exclusion. “I have to leave the Vuelta, Tour of Spain, a decision made by the team. I felt very good and I had good legs “, also deplored Barguil, said in the statement of Sunweb. “I saw myself in a different role and was eager to go to the mountain in the offensive, as I did on the Tour. The Vuelta is a great race and it was disappointing to have to leave but I have to accept the decision of the team “ , he said.
This is a setback for Barguil who aimed a stage victory on the Spanish test where it was revealed in 2013 with two wins. This exclusion comes as “Wawa” has announced that he will leave this winter to join the Sunweb Fortuneo French team. The German training nevertheless ensures that the French normally play following his late season program.
???? W. Barguil exclu de la Vuelta par son équipe pour ne pas avoir aidé son leader Kelderman après sa crevaison sur l’étape d’hier. #LV2017
— Le Gruppetto (@LeGruppetto) 26 August 2017
