Adam Blythe Aqua Blue Sport disqualified in Oman: The British rider was hit with a very unusual disqualification during the final stage of the Tour of Oman. The episode was based on an illegal bike change. Above, Adam Blythe placing 3rd on the final stage in Dubai Tour last week.
Adam Blythe Aqua Blue Sport disqualified in Oman
Having shown some very good sprinting form already this season, Adam Blythe was ruled out of the final sprint at the Tour of Oman today.
In an unusual move, Blythe was disqualified from the race during the stage.
He was penalised for changing his bike. Instead of dropping back to the team car in the cavalcade, his bike was changed at the front of the race.
That involved his team car going ahead of the race and readying the bike for him. And when the change was complete Blythe would not face a late chase back on.
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However, chief commissaire Jean-Pierre Coppenolle ruled the move broke the rules. And Blythe was ordered out of the stage before the final sprint.
Coppenolle spoke to reporters at the end of the stage. He said he had given the team permission to take the bike ahead of the race to prepare it.
He had done so because the new disc brakes were complicated. Spare bikes in Oman are also fixed into pick-up trucks with the front wheel removed.
It means any bike change would involve a bike being unfixed from the rack on the back of the team pick-up. And the front wheel would then be inserted.
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It appears Coppenolle was allowing the team go ahead of the peloton to get the bike prepared.
However, he said the bike change should have been done at the back of the field, not at the front.
At the time of writing Aqua Blue Sport had not commented, save to confirm on Twitter Blythe had been pulled out.
The 28-year-old British rider had taken 3rd and 4th placings at the Dubai Tour. And he was 6th on the opening stage in Oman.
The final stage today, 135.5km finishing on Matrah Corniche, finished in a bunch sprint.
It was won by European champion Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates) from Bryan Coquard (Vital Concept).
The outright victory was taken by Alexey Lutsenko from Astana team mate Miguel Angel Lopez.
Irish riders in Oman
Nicolas Roche (BMC Racing) rounded out the race in 26th place today on the same time as the winner. He was 19th overall.
Roche rode very well on the penultimate stage which finish atop Green Mountain. He took 9th on the stage as the lead group split to pieces.
Conor Dunne was 73rd today, coming in at the back of the main field. He rounded out the race in 89th overall.
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