Jan Christen disqualified at Clasica Jaen after sprint clash sends Maxim Van Gils into barriers

Jan Christen has been disqualified from Clasica Jaen Paraiso Interior after a dramatic sprint for third place ended with Maxim Van Gils being forced into the barriers.

Christen crossed the line in third place behind winner Tim Wellens and second-placed Thomas Pidcock, but his result was quickly overturned by the race jury.

After reviewing the sprint, officials ruled that Christen had deviated across the full width of the road and caused Van Gils to crash while the pair were contesting the final podium spot.

The sanction was immediate and decisive. Christen was disqualified from the results, and his place on the podium was taken by Benoit Cosnefroy, his own team-mate, turning a successful day for UAE Team Emirates - XRG into an awkward post-race talking point.

Unlike many borderline sprint incidents, the circumstances in Jaen left little ambiguity. Van Gils was visibly pushed off his line and into the barriers, bringing him down at the moment the race was being decided. The jury responded with the maximum sporting sanction, underlining the seriousness of the infringement.

The decision stood in contrast to earlier episodes involving Christen this season, when disciplinary action had stopped short of outright disqualification.

At the opening stage of the AlUla Tour in Saudi Arabia, the Swiss rider was caught on camera attempting to tow himself behind his team car after being involved in a crash. He was reprimanded by a race commissaire and later given a 20-second time penalty, sparking debate about whether the offence merited stronger punishment.

Christen also attracted attention that same day for crossing the finish line holding his mobile phone, which is prohibited under UCI regulations, and for passing the line 12 minutes after the peloton for a second time, another breach of the rules. On that occasion, he explained that he was trying to find the route back to his hotel, located close to the finish. Neither incident resulted in further sanctions.

At Clasica Jaen, however, there was no such leniency. The sprint clash directly affected the race outcome, involved a crash, and posed a clear safety risk. The jury’s response reflected that difference, delivering a ruling that reshaped the final standings and placed Christen’s conduct firmly under scrutiny.

For Van Gils, the incident ended his bid for a podium finish in abrupt fashion. For UAE Team Emirates - XRG, it added an uncomfortable footnote to a race they otherwise dominated through Wellens’ victory.

The disqualification ensured that the focus in Jaen shifted sharply from celebration to consequence, serving as a reminder that in high-speed sprints, even a single movement can carry immediate and irreversible punishment.