Wout Poels reveals how Movistar punched and elbowed him at Volta a Catalunya

Wout Poels has revealed particulars of the bodily aggression he confronted from Movistar on the current Volta a Catalunya and the way he made an official criticism to the UCI commissaires.

The Dutchman had run-ins with each Iván García Cortina and Nairo Quintana on the penultimate stage of the race on Saturday, the powerful 155km mountain day to Queralt, that left him shocked and indignant. 

Chatting with AD.nl’s biking podcast In Koers, Poels stated he made a criticism towards García Cortina after being punched within the arm, whereas later within the day he was elbowed by Quintana.

“On the penultimate day, there was a technical descent within the stage after 13km. Everybody needs to take a seat within the entrance, so it was crowded,” Poels stated, in response to WielerFlits.

“Then Iván García Cortina from Movistar intervened simply earlier than the highest. He sat up and punched me in my higher arm. He hit me actually onerous, and it harm fairly a bit. So, I then had an enormous argument with him. I requested why he did that. He stated it is at all times the identical tune with me. However I by no means trip uphill with him, as a result of he is normally already dropped.”

Poels stated his criticism towards the Spaniard resulted in a “disappointing” small effective and UCI factors deduction.

“I did not wish to let him get away with that,” he stated. 

“We discuss rather a lot with the CPA  concerning the security of biking. We regularly criticise organisers as a result of the routes will not be secure after which you’ve got a rider who simply throws a punch.

“I discovered the jury and filed a criticism. He acquired away with a effective of CHF300 and a few UCI factors deduction. That was a bit disappointing to me.”

In a while throughout the identical stage, Poels was on the receiving finish of Nairo Quintana’s elbow and responded with a quip concerning the Colombian’s constructive check for Tramadol on the 2022 Tour de France.

“We rode on a last climb, and I felt good. I wished to maneuver up, to be near Tadej Pogacar, however nobody let me in. So I made a decision to trip behind Enric Mas, subsequent to Quintana,” Poels stated.

“That is annoying for him, however I wasn’t using so near him that I attempted to push him away. At one level he elbowed me and I acquired into an argument with him. I stated that he was positively on Tramadol once more, which is why he was performing so aggressively.”

There has so been no response from Movistar, García Cortina and Quintana. Racing and rivalry can result in stress within the peloton however UCI guidelines forbid bodily contact.

Geraint Thomas supplied oblique assist for his former teammate, calling Quintana “a f*cking little rat” on his newest podcast and suggesting he shuold not be racing after his constructive check for Tramadol in 2022.

Poels’ incidents weren’t the one bust-ups on the day as one other Dutch rider additionally acquired right into a bodily spat through the queen stage, with the incident caught on digicam.

On the best way up the mid-stage climb of the Coll de Pradell – shortly after a Visma-Lease A Bike soigneur inadvertently took out a number of riders after not transferring out of the street shortly sufficient – Robert Gesink was caught on digicam punching Kern Pharma rider Jorge Gutiérrez within the hip because the pair rode in direction of the rear of the peloton.

It is unclear if any criticism was made towards the veteran climber, nevertheless, or if any fines had been handed out for the motion.