Gianni Moscon (Team Sky) has been handed a five week suspension by the UCI following an incident on Stage 15 of the 2018 Tour de France that saw him ejected from the race. The UCI Commissaires’ Panel disqualified Moscon from the Tour for his behaviour at the time, and expected, has now been sanctioned further.
The five week suspension starts today (Wednesday 8th August) and will run until Wednesday 12th September.
As Cyclist reported at the time, the 24-year-old was disqualified after he was seen striking Elie Gesbert (Fortuneo-Samsic) right at the start of Stage 15 from Millau to Carcassonne. The stage was won from the breakaway by Magnus Cort Nielsen (Astana).
The race jury reviewed footage of the Moscon incident once the stage had finished, which showed the Italian reaching back and throwing his hand towards the face of Gesbert.
The jury found this to be sufficient evidence to exclude Moscon from the race and he did not take the start on Stage 16.
The decision to exclude the rider was made after the stage had been completed, with the race jury citing article 12.1040.30.1 of the UCI regulations covering violent acts between riders, which permits disqualification.
This isn't the first time Moscon has been in trouble, and arguably isn't even the worst thing he's done either. Team Sky suspended their own rider last season after he was accused of using a racial slur against Kevin Reza.
The team also issued a written warning and sent him on a diversity awareness course.
The suspension means Team Sky now has five weeks to make a decision on the longer-term future of the young rider. Following the Reza incident, Sky said in a statement that 'any repeat will result in termination of his contract'.