Vingegaard Leads Rider Revolt, Then Comes the Headbutt

Sunday’s seemingly routine Giro d’Italia sprint stage spiraled into chaos when a rider was thrown out of the race for headbutting a rival and triggering a high-speed crash in Milan.

The incident came after race leader Jonas Vingegaard convinced organizers to neutralize the dangerous finale following rider complaints about the circuit on the packed streets of central Milan.

In a rare example of the most extreme disciplinary sanction, Enrico Zanoncello was booted out of the Giro d’Italia after race officials ruled he headbutted a rival during the sprint finish on stage 15.

The UCI jury disqualified the VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè rider after reviewing footage from the chaotic run into Milan, where the peloton was sprinting for minor placings behind a successful four-man breakaway.

As riders battled for position, Zanoncello made contact with another rider before headbutting Robert Donaldson of Team Jayco AlUla. Donaldson crashed hard at speed and slid across the road as riders behind scrambled to avoid him.

There was no immediate response from Zanoncello or his team.

Yellow card and rare expulsion

Zanoncello received a 1,000 Swiss franc fine, a yellow card, and immediate disqualification from the race. Officials also docked him points in the points classification.

Expulsions from major stage races remain relatively rare.

Riders are frequently relegated for dangerous sprinting, but it’s uncommon to see a racer kicked out of a race.

The 28-year-old Italian was racing his third Giro d’Italia and had posted a best result of ninth place in Naples. Zanoncello has won four professional races in his career, though none at WorldTour level.

The disqualification capped a tense finish to a stage that already embarrassed the sprint teams.

A four-rider breakaway survived on the pancake flat route that was one of the last chances for sprinters like Jonathan Milan and Dylan Groenewegen, both winless so far in this Giro.

Vingegaard steps up as Milan circuit raises safety concerns

The headbutt and expulsion all came after Vingegaard stepped up to intervene with officials during the stage.

Vingegaard — wearing the pink jersey for the first time in his career — was seen speaking with race officials several times during the stage.

In the end, the race jury decided to take the official GC times on the bell lap with about 15km to go rather than at the standard 3km to go mark.

“We all thought the circuit was too dangerous. When we entered the circuit, we approached the jury president’s car to discuss it. We should be happy as riders because they listened to us,” Vingegaard said.

Riders cited the uneven road surfaces, roads crowded with fans, and street furniture in the urban Milan streets as safety concerns.

It was a unique scene of Vingegaard, usually quiet and reserved, taking center stage to speak up for the larger interests of the peloton.

The decision was not without controversy, but Vingegaard said he felt it was his responsibility to raise the peloton’s concerns with officials.

“If I’d been the only one with this feeling, it would have been different, but everyone had the same vision,” Vingegaard said. “I felt I had a certain responsibility on my shoulders, and I went to speak to the president. They listened to us, and I think we should be grateful.”

Vingegaard actually rolled in with the front group despite leading the effort to neutralize the finale, taking a bit of a risk especially after the final sprint was marred by a crash.

Things will cool down Monday with the Giro’s third and final rest day before opening the fearsome third week with a summit finale in the 16th stage.