"It was a decision that was made on the road and it’s done" - Steaming Ian Stannard on Joshua Tarling's Paris-Roubaix disqualification

Ian Stannard was one of the most experienced cobbled classics riders in the peloton and nowadays he leads INEOS Grenadiers in the team car. However, a poor decision at Paris-Roubaix saw the team's young prospect Joshua Tarling get disqualified, and Stannard was not pleased with the situation.

Tarling's aspirations for a result were realistic, taking into consideration his sixth spot at Dwars door Vlaanderen and the Top20 at the much tougher and hillier Tour of Flanders. The European time-trial champion started Roubaix as a dangerous outsider as his physique is well suited to the race, and he himself started the event with a massive 62-tooth chainring.

However the race did not go his way. He was involved, albeit just slightly in the mass crash that took place in the opening hour of the race, but then with around 140 kilometers to go had a bike change and was distanced from the peloton with no convoy inbetween. The gap could not be closed by himself, but the poor decision was made for Tarling to get an extended tow - or 'sticky bottle' - from the INEOS Grenadiers car where Stannard was in. A few kilometers later, Tarling was disqualified and visibly angry.

"It was a decision that was made on the road and it’s done. There we are. It's just a racing circumstance and that’s it," Stannard said in words to GCN and Cyclingnews. "It’s a racing circumstance. He’s had a bike change and that’s it. You’re not getting any more from me." The team missed out on a result this Sunday; Tom Pidcock was present in the front groups but ultimately rode to a 17th place on the day.