{"id":369380,"date":"2025-08-24T08:56:11","date_gmt":"2025-08-24T08:56:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/369380\/"},"modified":"2025-08-24T08:56:11","modified_gmt":"2025-08-24T08:56:11","slug":"rules-are-a-joke-and-not-correct","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/369380\/","title":{"rendered":"Rules are a joke and not correct"},"content":{"rendered":"

After multiple podium finishes, Danny van Poppel<\/a> looked set to finally celebrate a win in the Deutschland Tour. His joy after crossing the line first in <\/b>stage 3<\/b><\/a>, however, was short-lived. The Dutch champion of Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe was relegated after the finish: he had obstructed Matthew Brennan (Visma | Lease a Bike). The decision sparked debate, with many fans – and Tadej Pogacar<\/a> – questioning the jury\u2019s call.<\/b><\/p>\n

Van Poppel came from behind and launched his sprint early. Brennan was on his wheel. When the Dutchman pulled alongside S\u00f8ren Waerenskjold, a gap seemed to open for the Brit. But Van Poppel shut the door: Brennan barely stayed upright but saw his sprint ruined. Van Poppel celebrated, but after the finish, he was relegated.<\/p>\n

Waerenskjold was declared the winner. The Norwegian felt the jury made the right call. \u201cHe was the strongest. But he didn\u2019t hold his line. If he had, he probably would have won too,\u201d the Norwegian judged afterward<\/a>. Most viewers seemed to side with the Uno-X Mobility rider: what Van Poppel did was unacceptable, and relegation was the only option.Thijs Zonneveld<\/a> also agreed. The former rider and current sporting director of BEAT Cycling even spotted another infringement in the final kilometer… by the organizers. \u201cRightful yellow card and relegation for Van Poppel,\u201d the analyst said<\/a>. \u201cBut once again, the organizers get away with including a corner 200 meters from the finish.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read on below the video!<\/p>\n

Pogacar lashes out: “Congrats Danny, you won”<\/p>\n

One fan nicknamed the Dutchman \u201cDjamolidine\u201d Van Poppel, a reference to Djamolidine Abdoujaparov: the Uzbek sprinter who won nine Tour de France stages and three green jerseys in the \u201990s. Abdoujaparov was infamous for his wild sprinting style, often involving elbows and swerves.<\/p>\n

Tadej Pogacar, however, saw things very differently. The Slovenian world champion was one of the few to defend Van Poppel. On Instagram<\/a>, he made his displeasure crystal clear. \u201cThe clear winner of today\u2019s stage. These relegations are a joke and not correct. Job done poorly,\u201d fumed the two-time Tour winner. \u201cLike so many times this year. Congrats Danny, you won.\u201d