Adam Yates given 10-second penalty at Tour de France for taking hand-sling

British best young rider Adam Yates given time penalty and fine by Tour de France race jury for hand-sling with another rider during stage 19

(Image credit: Watson)

Adam Yates (Orica-BikeExchange) was given a 10-second time penalty and a 200 CHF (£154) fine for taking a hand-sling from a team-mate during stage 19 of the Tour de France on Friday.

Yates's name appeared on the daily list of race jury decisions issued after each stage finishes. His team-mate Ruben Plaza, from whom Yates must have taken the hand-sling, was also given the same penalty.

Taking a 'flying relay' is forbidden under Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) cycling regulation 12.1.040/9.1.2. The incident would have occurred before the final kilometre as this carries a much larger 30-second time penalty and relegation to the back of the group you are in.

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Yates had already lost time and his third place overall on the gruelling climbing stage to Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc, finishing in 13th position and 56 seconds behind stage winner Romain Bardet (Ag2r).

>>> Five talking points from stage 19 of the Tour de France

Crucially, Yates's adjusted time plus 30-second loss to Nairo Quintana (Movistar) means that Quintana moves to third overall, 19 seconds ahead of Yates in fourth. Bardet moves up to second overall behind race leader Chris Froome (Sky).

Yates still occupies the position of best young rider in the race.

Froome's team-mate Geraint Thomas (Sky) was also among those receiving a fine on the stage for 'pushing off against a car, motorcycle or rider'. His fine amounted to 50 CHF (£38.60). Russian Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha) was fined for the same rule infringement.

The Tour de France continues on Saturday with the final stage in the Alps, a 146.5km haul from Megève to Morzine-Avoriaz finishing with an ascent and descent of the Col de Joux Plane. The race concludes in Paris on Sunday.

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Nigel Wynn
Former Associate Editor

Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, an exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.