The International Cycling Union (UCI) has overturned a 20-second time penalty imposed by the race jury on Rigoberto Uran and George Bennett after the 12th stage of the Tour de France.
“The UCI has reversed its decision. No penalty for Rigo,” Cannondale-Drapac team manager Jonathan Vaughters said on Twitter.
“In light of the inability of teams to resupply their riders before the last climb of stage 12 of the 2017 Tour de France due to specific circumstances of the race which had blocked vehicles, the UCI Commissaires Panel has decided to annul the penalties imposed on riders Serge Pauwels (Team Dimension Data), George Bennett (Team Lotto NL – Jumbo) and Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale Drapac Pro Cycling Team),” the UCI statement said.
Uran and Bennett had been sanctioned for taking water bottles in the last 10km, while Romain Bardet (AG2R) escaped punishment although video indicates that he too broke the same rule.
Rigoberto Uran stays fourth in the overall standings, 35 seconds behind race leader Fabio Aru and not 55 seconds off the pace before the reversal of the decision.
