Video: Bizarre disqualification incident in-full at Nokere-Koerse
It doesn't get much more dangerous and more arrogant than the incident that resulted in a mid-race disqualification at Nokere-Koerse. Above, Lotto-Soudal rider Kris Boeckmans going back to his team car to break the news he's out of the contest.
Lotto-Soudal rider Kris Boeckmans missed out on the finale of Nokere-Koerse after he was disqualified with 8km remaining in the Belgian semi-classic.
A crash occurred bringing down several riders just inside 10km to the finish after Michael Schwarzmann (Bora-hansgrohe) fell first.
The racing was already going forward, with several teams on the front working hard. However, when ProContinental team WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect began really pushing forward Boeckmans objected.
He went up to their train on the front, pulling one of the riders back and then appearing to exchange words with the rider on the front.
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After he'd said his piece he slipped away from the very front of the bunch. As he went backwards he resumed his confrontation with the rider he had moments earlier pulled back; Justin Jules of WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect.
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He put his hand on Jules and kept hold of him, with both riders dropping back through the bunch, from the front to the rear.
Other riders had to dodge them as the duo dropped back through the main field. Boeckmans seemed to be making sure Jules would lose his place at the head of the peloton as the bunch sprint approached.
But a little further up the road he was filmed talking to the commissaire and was informed he was disqualified.
It's one of the strangest incidents we've seen. We have the clip below set to start just before the crash occurs, with the incident and disqualification following immediately.
Also keep an eye out for perhaps the worst tempered abandons of a pro race by Rayane Bouhanni of Cofidis.
The team would still win the race via Nacer Bouhanni.
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