Michael Schär of AG2R Citroën has been disqualified from the Tour of Flanders after tossing a bidon as a souvenir to fans, but breaking the new littering rules in the process.
The Swiss rider was furious with himself, gesticulating on the bike in annoyance after what was clearly a momentary lapse rather anything deliberate.
Pro cyclists have for decades thrown away their bottles, often towards fans so they will have a souvenir from their day out at a big race, and some of the riders will struggle to stay alert to the new rule through a long race.
Under those new rules, riders can be disqualified from an event, and instantly removed by a moto commissaire, if they discard bottles or other items outside designated zones on the route.
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Schär had suffered two
mechanicals, had changed his bike twice and was trying to rejoin the peloton
when he threw the bottle towards fans on the roadside.
He instantly realised his mistake but kept riding and when he made his way to the back of the bunch he was informed by the commissaire he was out of the race.
His disqualification followed an earlier, unrelated incident, when Yevgeniy Fedorov (Astana) and Otto Vergaerde (Alpecin Fenix) clashed and were disqualified.
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