Race director Angelo Zomegnan witnessed incident
Alberto Contador moved a step closer to final victory in the Giro d’Italia yesterday when he won the mountain time trial, but it wasn’t all good news for the Spaniard.
His personal mechanic, Faustino Muñoz, was thrown off the race by officials after what they termed “inappropriate behaviour.”
Muñoz was in the car following behind the rider in the time trial and opened the door while the car was moving, hitting a fan.
It was deemed that the action was deliberate, and while the incident was not caught on camera, race director Angelo Zomegnan was reportedly in the car behind the Saxo Bank SunGard vehicle and saw it firsthand.
Race officials discussed the issue and decided to thrown the mechanic off the race. Saxo Bank manager Philippe Mauduit was fined in relation to the incident; it is unclear in what way he was deemed culpable.
Muñoz will be able to work on the bikes away from the race. The removal of his accreditation will affect only his usual role of travelling in the team car and assisting during the stages.
Some fans have booed the rider this year, presumably due to his ongoing case involving a Clenbuterol positive. Contador has however said that most of those by the roadside have been supportive of his efforts to win the race.