Fined for drinking during a heatwave? Uno-X hit out after harsh Tour de France penalty: “We do it for the riders’ health and wellbeing”

Tobias Halland Johannessen had a headache as temperatures again climbed beyond 30°C on Stage 10 of the 2026 Tour de France. Uno-X Mobility sports director Gabriel Rasch responded by handing him a bottle.

The feed took place outside the permitted zone during the finale to Le Lioran, placing both rider and team in breach of the stage regulations.

Halland Johannessen was subsequently fined 500 Swiss francs and docked 20 seconds, while Rasch received a separate fine worth almost 10,000 Danish kroner.

“I think it is an unnecessary punishment and an unnecessary rule,” Rasch told TV 2 Sport. “When it is that hot, we should be allowed to provide a bottle. We do it for the riders’ health and wellbeing.”

The incident followed an opening block dominated by extreme temperatures. Stage 9 had been shortened by 30 kilometres after Correze was placed under a red heatwave alert, yet the peloton faced another mountainous route in temperatures above 30°C immediately after the rest day.

Tour organiser ASO has adjusted its feeding restrictions on several stages. On flat days, teams have been permitted to provide bottles from kilometre 10 until 10 kilometres from the finish, while further concessions can be made during particularly hot mountain stages.

Stage 10 had a more limited exception. Feeding was prohibited inside the final 15 kilometres apart from within a designated zone on the Col de Font de Cere.

Uno-X supplied Halland Johannessen outside that zone after he reported feeling unwell. Rasch said numerous other riders had also received bottles during the restricted section. “He needed something to drink and it was very, very hot,” Rasch said. “So we gave him a bottle, which virtually the entire gruppetto received and many, many others did as well. We could see plenty of teams standing beside the road inside the final 15 kilometres.”

Halland Johannessen had already spent almost four hours racing across seven classified climbs when the bottle was handed over. He eventually reached Le Lioran in 18th place, 4:50 behind Tadej Pogacar.

“He said he had a headache, so of course he needed something to drink when it was that hot,” the sports director said. “It’s a fine we are happy to accept. I would happily give him a bottle to prevent him from having problems and then accept the fine.”

The 20-second sanction did not alter Halland Johannessen’s position in the general classification. He began Stage 11 in 14th place, almost 15 minutes behind Pogacar.