Video: Fan's video captures Sagan shoulder barging on Kemmelberg
Peter Sagan is a new team mate of Ireland's Sam Bennett this year. Both had already ridden very well but Sagan has been forced to defend himself after a new body-check video emerged.
New video recorded by a spectator at last weekend’s Gent-Wevelgem shows Peter Sagan body checking another rider.
While making contact with other riders and even a bit of shoulder barging is quite common in cycling, it is the force of Sagan’s move that has raised eyebrows.
The world champion makes sudden a forceful contact with the rider to his left, said to be Maxime Vantomme (WB Veranclassic).
Reports from Belgium suggest he knocked him off the road, though he clearly did not take his hands over bars; the golden rule in these situations.
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I just saw the video of the contact with @MaximeVantomme at @GentWevelgem. I wasn't aware of it. I'm sorry but these things happen in races
— Peter Sagan (@petosagan) March 30, 2017
The move was just about caught in TV images from helicopter above the group during Sunday’s race.
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But only the very start of the contact is captured, with both riders disappearing out of frame a split second too soon to see the full incident.
Now footage recorded from the roadside has emerged, below. And while you’ll miss it if you blink; you’ll see it clearly even if you need to play it a few times.
Some of the media in Belgium have suggested the video is proof Sagan thinks he can do as he pleases in the bunch.
At the time he appears to be trying to make space for himself so he can attack off the front in pursuit of eventual winner Greg van Avermaet (BMC).
It didn’t seem to do Vantomme much hard as he went on to finish 11th in the race.
@Vannieuwkerke @sporza hier ook duidelijk de actie van Sagan te zien zondag op de Kemmelberg! pic.twitter.com/15rsjQCsUI
— Joachim Verhaeghe (@JoachimVerhaegh) March 29, 2017
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