While Stage 6 saw a win from the “Manx Missile” (Mark Cavendish), the real explosions didn’t begin until after the finish line (how ‘bout that lede?).
VIDEO: Pair Of Tour de France Cyclists Fight After Stage 6
Carlos Barredo (team Quick Step) went after Rui Costa (Caisse d’Epargne) shortly after the finish on Friday, and since he is a cyclist, Barredo used his front wheel as a weapon to attack Costa, naturally.
The incident happened while Costa was still on his bike, with a healthy dose of his spare front wheel to the Spaniard’s face being the 23 year old’s only option for defense. Barredo chimed in with a couple of right hooks that were immediately answered with a left elbow from the Caisse d’Epargne rider. Both riders were then tangled in the Portuguese rider’s bike and fell to the ground.
Don’t worry, there’s video of the spindly-armed altercation.
Apparently the whole thing started with a brief dust-up during Friday’s ride.
Barredo told Spanish journalists that tempers flared with about 20km to go in the stage. According to Barredo, Costa elbowed him in the gut as he passed, nearly throwing him off the bike and knocking the breath out of him.
There was immediate talk of disqualifying both riders from the race, but each were only fined 400 Swiss fancs for their actions: “200 Swiss francs for incorrect comportment and 200 Swiss francs for ‘injuries and menace’ at the end of the stage.”
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