Patrick Lefevere, one of pro cycling's grandees, has gotten stuck in on Twitter in defence of his Irish sprinter Sam Bennett after the dramatic events on La Vuelta today.
Deceuninck-QuickStep did a fantastic job for Bennett in the closing kilometres of stage 9 in Spain today and as the finish line neared the Irish rider waited and waited before pulling the trigger late into the headwind.
He sailed over the finish line in Aguilar de Campoo with his hands in the air, celebrating his team's 100th Grand Tour stage win and what Bennett said was his 50th pro win. But minutes later the situation had changed.
The commissaires reviewed footage of Bennett just before the sprint when he became involved in some shoulder barging (video here) with Emils Liepins; the review sparked after Liepins's Trek-Segafredo team made a complaint.
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After about 30 minutes reviewing the footage a decision was made against Bennett that saw him relegated to the back of the group and Pascal Ackermann (Bora-hansgrohe) elevated to first place on the stage.
Lotto Soudal's 22-year-old, Gerben Thijssen was promoted from 3rd to 2nd and he looks like one to watch.
Deceuninck-QuickStep team boss Lefevere and Trek Segafredo's general manager Luca Guercilena later clashed on Twitter over the incident.
"What a bullshit," said Lefevere. "He (Sam Bennett) was in he’s lead out and the Trek rider want to pull him out of it. But we know already a longtime the incompetence of the UCI var safety first."
Guercilena was not slow to respond, saying: "I reply as well as you mention Trek Segafredo rider. To be clear first he (Liepins) was put off Ackerman wheel by your lead out, then Bennet try to put him down two times in a totally incorrect and useless way. TV images are clear enough. No VAR needed at all."
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Lefevere wasn't happy, questioning how many sprints Liepins had won and also questioning where his lead-out train was if he was contesting the sprint.
"A lead out has to be respected and Sam Bennett defended his line," Lefevere added.
However, Guercilena responded and asked if a rider needed to have a lead-out train before he could contest a bunch sprint.
"Does a rider need wins to be respected? He won five mass sprint just to tell. Does a sprinter absolutely need a lead out to win? It surprise me as you teach me and all working with you that a sprinter should always sprint, clearly respecting the rules."
Steven de Jongh, a sports director with Trek-Segafredo, then posted a screengrab of the front of the bunch showing Liepins in position behind the Bora-hansgrohe train, and with Deceuninck-QuickStep riders all behind him (below).
He was apparently implying that the Trek-Segefredo rider had managed to secure a good position only to be muscled out.
The Twitter spat aside, Bennett lost his victory and it looks as if we are going to only see non-contact sprints in cycling from now on if today's events are anything to go by.
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