Eleuterio Anguita Hinojosas excluded after cycling Worlds offence

Eleuterio Anguita Hinojosas has been expelled from the remainder of the cycling World Championships and fined 1,000 Swiss francs, about 1,060 euros, after a dangerous vehicle incident during the junior race in Montreal. The former professional rider and Spanish national selector was punished for breaching rules governing vehicles moving within the race.

The incident occurred on Thursday when a Spanish team car travelled at high speed down a descent on the closed course. Footage filmed by a spectator was shared widely on social media, showing the vehicle lifting its wheels after crossing a small rise. Some viewers believed it was travelling at more than 100 kilometres per hour, although no accident was caused.

The car was apparently attempting to reach Benjamin Noval, who was pursuing a second victory at the championships. Noval, the son of former professional rider Benjamin Noval, had already won the time trial and then took the junior road race ahead of France’s Simon Defrance. His road-race success completed the double, while the driving incident brought a major penalty for the Spanish selection’s manager.

The exclusion removes Anguita Hinojosas from the rest of the Montreal championships, and the fine adds a financial sanction to the disciplinary decision.