Spain's Vicente de Mateus and Italian Enrico Rossitrade blows at the end of Tuesday's sixth stage of the Volta a Portugal.
With temperatures and tempers reaching boiling point at the end of yesterday’s sixth stage of the Volta a Portugal, two riders had to be pulled apart after they traded blows after the finish line.
Louletano-Dunas Douradas rider Vicente de Mateus from Spain and Italian Enrico Rossi of the Christina Watches-Kuma team appeared to blame each other for their part in a hectic sprint finish.
Rossi lashed out at De Mateus in the video below, with blows returned before the fight was broken up by other riders.
“The adrenaline was running high and they collided at high speed," said Rossi's team manager and former pro Bo Hamburger.
"If you put yourself in his position then you can understand why he hit him.”
Advertisement
In fairness, it's probably nothing you wouldn't see after a Park gallop.
Related News
The incident is reminiscent of the slapfest between Ireland's Sam Bennett, then riding for An Post, and Italian sprinter Elia Viviani of Cannondale after a stage of last year's Tour of Britain (below).
Bennett was making his mark in the race, having won a stage and then beaten Viviani in the sprint finish that decided the last stage; it was good to see the Irishman giving as good as he got.
Topics
