Huub Artz of Lotto-Intermarché has lost his place in the breakaway, or opted to give it up, after a dispute with the commissaire over how he was holding the bars
Huub Artz of Lotto-Intermarché had made the breakaway on the Tourmalet stage at the Tour de France today, Thursday, but then got into a dispute - perhaps given a warning - in an exchange with the commissaire.
The incident appears to centre on how the Belgian was holding his bars, specifically the commissaire contending he had his hands inside the bars, holding under the brake levers, in a bid to get more aero.
The Belgian's set-up on the bike appears to be legal, but it was the manner in which he was holding the bars that the commissaire took issue with.
Holding the bars in a manner that makes a rider more aero, but compromises their control of their bike is banned under UCI rules.
Related News
The rider is still in the race and it was not immediately clear why he dropped out of the breakaway; as a penalty imposed, which would be unusual, or simply out of protest.
He was up the road at the time in a three-man move withVictor Campenaerts (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) and yesterday's stage winner Mads Pedersen (Lidl Trek).
👮♂️ Tenemos 'Artz-Gate'
😶 Huub Artz, llamado al orden por la UCI, abandona la escapada por un problema con su posición en la bicicleta#TDF2026 | #LaCasadelCiclismo pic.twitter.com/FjWtDgVvZ7
— Eurosport.es (@Eurosport_ES) July 9, 2026
