News : Tour de France 2019: Tony Martin shocked after being thrown out – Team protests

It is not uncommon for cyclists to finish the Tour de France prematurely. Falls, fatigue or illness can hit any pro on the France Tour. For Tony Martin, however, the end of the tour in 2019 is particularly bitter. The four-time time trial world champion of Team Jumbo-Visma has been disqualified after a fight with the British driver Luke Rowe (Team Ineos) - as well as his opponent.

On the official results list Martin and Rowe were canceled with the remark "out of the race". In addition, both have to pay a fine of around 900 euros.

The drivers had a dispute in the final stages of the 17th stage. Video footage shows how Martin Rowe partly pushes off the road.

"It was in the heat of the battle, and there was a big fight for the last mountain to get our captains in. We drove for five hours at 35 degrees and were at the limit, I'm so sorry what happened I felt very bad after that, "Martin said," But sometimes that happens in sports, it's a big shock, I feel very bad and sad, leaving the team in this important phase is very bad. "

Both teams filed an appeal, with a decision expected on Thursday morning.

Martins manager Jörg Werner had previously sharply criticized the race director: "The decision is a joke and completely exaggerated.Tony has worked so extremely hard for two and a half weeks, also left a lot of mental strength, so you should be more merciful and maintain the proportionality," he said.

His opponent did not want to accept the expulsion so easily. "I think we both did our work, we may have crossed the line a bit, but our exclusion is too hard," Rowe said. "None of us deserves that." Ineos team boss David Brailsford called the decision "incredibly hard".