The opening day of the UAE Tour was one of the most straightforward days a professional rider will ever race, with the finishing straight being 60 kilometers long. However, despite the lack of any technical element, the day was not without incidents, as Bahrain - Victorious' Jonathan Milan and AG2R Citroën Team's Paul Lapeira protagonized a dangerous moment.
With 11 kilometers to go, the helicopter camera caught the moment a Bahrain rider pushed an AG2R rider, later identified as Milan and Lapeira, whilst riding in the middle of the peloton causing several riders to swerve and miraculously avoid a crash.
In the meantime, the young rider from AG2R has taken to Twitter to call out the behaviour, describing it as "disrespectful and super dangerous in a peloton", before writing "To UCI, we have to do something about these guys and stop this kind of behaviour for our safety". On social media there have been plenty of comments regarding Milan's continuation to the race, aswell as calls for a disqualification or a ban for this behaviour.
Until now no decision or disciplinary action has been taken. Milan went on to finish the stage well placed, 12th in the fast sprint finish whilst Paul Lapeira arrived in the middle of the pack.
.@MilanJonathan_ you just can't do that. It's disrespectful and super dangerous in a peloton. To UCI, we have to do something about these guys and stop this kind of behavior for our safety. @BHRVictorious @UCI_media @uae_tour
#Replay 🎥 / #UAETour 🇦🇪 Allez hop, exclusion. Faut être malade pour réagir comme ça dans un peloton. 😡 pic.x.com/zKet1wlrVF
