Tour de France: Team Sky cyclist Gianni Moscon apologises after punching rival

Team Sky’s Gianni Moscon has been disqualified from the 2018 Tour de France after he punched a rival cyclist.

The Italian was filmed striking Team Fortuneo-Samsic rider Elie Gesbert just 800m into the 181.5km stage from Millau to Carcassonne yesterday. Astana’s Magnus Cort won the stage.

Team Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford called the incident “unacceptable” and said further action could be taken against the 24-year-old when the Tour finishes.

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In a statement Brailsford said: “We support and accept the decision by the race organisers to exclude Gianni Moscon from the Tour de France.

“Gianni is desperately disappointed in his behaviour and knows that he has let himself, the Team and the race down.

“We will address this incident with Gianni once the Tour is complete and decide then if any further action should be taken.

“I would like to offer my sincere apologies to both Elie Gesbert and Team Fortuneo Samsic for this unacceptable incident.”

In a video posted on Team Sky’s Twitter account Moscon apologised for his actions. He said: “What happened was wrong. I make no excuses for it and accept the decision from the race organisers.”

It is the latest controversial incident in Moscon’s cycling career, the BBC reports. Last year he was given a six-week suspension by Team Sky for racially abusing a rival and was also disqualified from the world championship road race after “hanging onto a team car”.