Dutch winner of Worlds Under-23 men’s race disqualified for drafting cars
Italian Samuele Battistella awarded gold medal
The Under-23 men’s race at the Yorkshire 2019 Road World Championships ended in controversy on Friday as the winner of a sprint between six riders was disqualified for slipstreaming cars as he made his way back to the peloton after a crash. Nils Eekhoff of the Netherlands and Sunweb was devastated to have his gold medal denied and given to Italy’s Samuele Battistella.
It was another Yorkshire 2019 race contested in the rain. Eekhoff crashed with 130 km of the 171.6-km route left to ride, dislocating his shoulder and looking to be in considerable pain. After popping the shoulder true, he chased back onto the peloton. The judged that he did so against the rules.
#eekhoffgate
1st video #judgeforyourself pic.twitter.com/hjYzdLRMAd— Alex Rasmussen (@alexfalkeman) September 27, 2019
Eekhoffgate
2nd video#judgeforyourself pic.twitter.com/C0P1uP7Rfk— Alex Rasmussen (@alexfalkeman) September 27, 2019
According to the UCI, the race jury didn’t yank Eekhoff from the race before he continued to contest if for three hours, because it didn’t see the video of the Dutchman making his way back.
Many people thought the race jury’s decision was unfair.
The UCI……..keeping cycling craptastic for 119 years.
— Race Radio (@TheRaceRadio) September 27, 2019
If this is the new standard going forward then every puncture or crash will spell a DSQ or us missing the time limit, some people take the piss with the cars in the convoy at times but coming back from a crash when the jury haven’t made barrage means they are fair game in my book https://t.co/GI7iLarhvq
— George Bennett? (@georgenbennett) September 27, 2019
All could sympathize with the young Dutchman.
This is the saddest picture I have seen this week…
'I had no idea I was taking a risk' says disqualified Dutchman of drafting back to the caravan after crash. Simply unfair #ifhe’sguiltythenallguilty pic.twitter.com/rE9CzSPHzz— Carlton Kirby (@carltonkirby) September 27, 2019
We all know what winning a World Championship looks like.
This shows the heartbreak of having it taken away an hour later via @PhotoGomezSport pic.twitter.com/umIQaOljZB— Brian Nygaard (@nygaardbn) September 27, 2019
The decision has been made to relegate @nilseekhoff after his victory. Sport can be so tough at times, our thoughts are with Nils. pic.twitter.com/GTJq5m51r3
— Team Sunweb (@TeamSunweb) September 27, 2019
Upon the controversial decision, Battistella was the new winner, with Swiss Stefan Bissegger moving from bronze to silver and Brit Tom Pidcock, another ‘cross to road phenom, taking the bronze.
After his misery, Eekhoff gathered himself and Tweeted.
??About what should have been my best day on a bike… pic.twitter.com/Z4zm2Fvx2N
— Nils Eekhoff (@nilseekhoff) September 27, 2019
The top Canadian was Nick Zukowsky at 26th, +3:02, while Evan Burtnik finished 77th in a big pack with 84th place Laurent Gervais at +12:42. Pier-André Coté was among the 42 riders who didn’t finish.
The Elite Women’s race is Saturday, with Canada’s Marie-Soleil Blais, Karol-Ann Canuel, Gillian Ellsay, Alison Jackson and Sara Poidevin taking on the world.
2019 UCI Road World Championships U23 Men’s Road Race
Gold) Samuele Battistella (Italy) 3:38:04
Silver) Stefan Bissegger (Switzerland) s.t.
Bronze) Tom Pidcock (Great Britain) s.t.
26) Nick Zukowsky (Canada) +3:02
77) Evan Burtnik (Canada) +12:42
84) Laurent Gervais (Canada) s.t.
DNF) Pier-André Coté (Canada)
