Anger management: Coach breaks hand punching table after China are disqualified at cycling world championships
Disqualification from the team sprint final on the opening night of the worlds so incenses coach Benoit Vetu that he suffers a suspected broken hand hitting table in anger
China’s women were disqualified from the team sprint final on the opening night of the world championships on Wednesday, a decision that so incensed their French coach Benoit Vetu that he suffered a suspected broken hand hitting a table in anger.
It is the rules but the rules are bad. It was a millimetre too early, that is all. One millimetre
The team of Gong Jinjie and Zhong Tianshi had appeared to have successfully defended their world title in emphatic fashion against Russia only to be relegated for an illegal change.
“It is the rules but the rules are bad,” said Vetu, his right hand in a cast, before leaving London’s Lee Valley VeloPark for x-rays. “It was a millimetre too early, that is all. One millimetre.”
After their relegation, the Russian duo of Daria Shmeleva and Anastasiia Voinova were declared world champions.
Earlier in the day, during qualifying, hosts Great Britain, needing to place two nations between them and France to earn the last place for the Olympics, could only come fifth meaning the seventh-placed French claimed the spot for Rio.
“There is a lot of frustration, disappointment, disappointed in the organisation,” she said.
“We’re in this position through decisions of other people, not through any fault of our own.”
The Germans came from behind to beat Australia, featuring Olympic legend Anna Meares and Stephanie Morton, by just over one-tenth of a second in a close race for the bronze medal in the women’s team sprint.