Everyone knows you ‘stay wider of the rider’, thanks to those stickers on cars across South Africa, but that’s not really an option in the Tour de France.

One man you do want to give as much room as possible to is Team Sky’s Gianni Moscon, who has now been kicked off the Tour after punching Fortuneo-Samsic’s Elie Gesbert just 800 metres into yesterday’s 181,5km stage from Millau to Carcassonne.

Talk about pacing yourself.

Here’s NewsAU:

The race expulsion adds to the 24-year-old Italian’s troubled disciplinary record after he was suspended last year for racially abusing FDJ’s Kevin Reza during the Tour de Romandie.

Charming chap, this Gianni. Maybe he should take a piss test, because it sounds like he might have ‘roid rage.

In a statement, Team Sky principal Dave Brailsford said a decision on whether Moscon would face further action will be made after the Tour. “We support and accept the decision by the race organisers to exclude Gianni Moscon from the Tour de France,” Brailsford said.

“Gianni is desperately disappointed in his behaviour and knows that he has let himself, the team and the race down.

“We will address this incident with Gianni once the Tour is complete and decide then if any further action should be taken.

“I would like to offer my sincere apologies to both Elie Gesbert and Team Fortuneo Samsic for this unacceptable incident.”

Footage of the incident is hard to come by, but you’ll see the punch being thrown, with a little replay, below:

If that doesn’t work, you can also see some footage here.

What’s the matter, Gianni? Maybe it’s the toit spandex pants, or maybe he’s just a prick.

[source:newsau]