James Knox becomes the first male rider to receive a "bizzare" yellow card

Soudal - Quick-Step rider James Knox has been given the first yellow card among men after the fifth stage of Vuelta a Espana. He was given the punishment for "improper, indecent or dangerous behavior towards spectators".

What exactly happened? A spectator was walking with the British rider for a while and Knox gave the impression that he wanted to hand over a water bottle. However, he did not hand over the bottle and seemed to be playing with the situation. At one point, the camera crew arrived and at that exact moment the spectator fell. It is unclear whether the person sustained any injuries.

For that action, Knox received a yellow card, a fine of 200 CHF and a deduction of 10 UCI points. These UCI points are important because they determine which riders and teams can qualify for certain major events.

"A justified sanction," Wilfried Peeters, team manager at Soudal Quick-Step, told HLN.

Currently still in its testing phase, the yellow cards virtually don't hold any value, however were they to prove their value in UCI's eyes, they cards system would be officially introduced as a safety measure from January 1, 2025. From the new season, collecting too many yellow cards would mean a rider ends up with a disqualification from the stage race and forced to take some time to repent for their inadequate actions.