Milan-San Remo winner under investigation for taking a tow from his team car
Arnaud Démare is being accused of holding on to his team car on the Cipressa climb to rejoin the peloton
The winner of Milan-San Remo, Arnaud Démare (FDJ) is under investigation by the Italian Cycling Federation for taking a tow from his team car up the Cipressa climb. Démare crashed prior to the ascent of the Cipressa but quickly got up and rejoined the peloton before going on to sprint to victory.
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Matteo Tosatto of Tinkoff told La Gazzetta dello Sport right after the race that,”Démare was off the back before the Cipressa. Then on the climb he passed us going twice our speed. I didn’t see if he was on the car window or with a (sticky) bottle. Of course he was strong in the sprint but without that tow he would never have made it to contest the sprint. I’ve never seen a thing like that done so shamelessly.”
Tosatto didn’t stop by just pointing the finger at the Frenchmen but has revealed that he has given written evidence to the Italian Cycling Federation to contribute to an ongoing investigation into the events that proceeded Démare crash and subsequent rejoining of the peloton.
Démare posted his winning ride on Strava where his blisteringly fast ascent of the Cipressa earned him the KOM.
Tossato’s accusations were confirmed by Eros Capecchi of Astana, who told La Gazzetta dello Sport, “I was on Tosatto’s wheel and saw it very clearly. Demare was hanging on to the right of the team car. It’s disgusting.”
Tosatto also told La Gazzetta dello Sport that FDJ riders have attacked him for speaking out.
“I was hurt because after Milan-San Remo I rode the Volta a Catalunya and there were some of Demare’s teammates in my hotel and they had a go at me. But I’ve no regrets and nothing to be ashamed about, I know I can hold my head high,” Tosatto said.
The Italian continued, “But I’ve no regrets about what I said because I saw it. I also repeated it to the Italian Cycling Federation investigators who contacted me for an explanation. I didn’t speak to them in person but sent them some emails.”
In 2015, Vincenzo Nibali was disqualified from the Vuelta a España for taking a tow from his team car. The whole thing was caught on video making the evidence available for everyone to see.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv_g4BJregQ
