Sepulveda Disqualified From Tour De France

Last updated : 18 July 2015 By Covsupport News Service

Emmanuel Hubert, manager général of the Bretagne-Séché Enviroment team has confirmed that their leader Eduardo Sepulveda has been disqualified from the 102nd Tour De France.

Hubert told letour.fr: "At the top of the col de L'Escrinet, he broke his chain and was helped out by the car AG2R, who gave him a wheel, thinking it was the problem.

"It was hidden by the AG2R car and I have not seen it. I stopped 100 meters away and Eduardo, instead of coming to me on foot, spent the 100 metres in the back seat of the AG2R car.

"There is nothing to say. The rules are clear"

Sepulveda said to his team's press office: "I made a mistake, I admit. First of all, I want to apologize to my teammates, who had shown me great confidence for the Tour; Emmanuel Hubert and all the staff; to the Britain-Séché Environnement team partners. To all my Argentine fans also living the Tour through me.

I collapsed to the exclusion from the race, but I understand that everyone is very disappointed with what happened. I lack experience, it's my first Tour and race, I lived every moment with a lot of stress. This was the case in the final that day, and when I break my chain and I do not see my car coming, I am in panic, it's true.

"I saw the car of Emmanuel Hubert stop a little earlier, I had the very bad habit of getting into the AG2R-La Mondiale. This is a huge mistake. But I do not want anyone to think of me that I'm a cheater.

"Excluded from my first Tour de France, it is the worst nightmare for me."

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Ramon Sinkeldam abandoned the Tour de France today on stage 14 after suffering from stomach problems, which were caused by sickness.

“I got sick overnight, slept badly and nearly was able to eat this morning. Nevertheless in good hope I started but felt bad and after 20km I threw up a couple of times and was completely out of energy,” said Sinkeldam. “I am really disappointed. In my first Vuelta I also abandoned in the second week. My personal goal was to make it to Paris and to help John [Degenkolb], which I physically would be capable of doing. Unfortunately, it will not happen this year.”

Team physician Stephan Jacolino  (NED) added: "Ramon got sick last night, as a result of the heat and the huge efforts for the team, which were extremely demanding. Today during the stage he paid the price, unfortunately for him and the team."