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UCI suspends Astana sports director who almost hit Tour de Yorkshire marshal

50-day suspension and 5,000 Swiss Francs fine for Lars Michaelsen following dramatic incident caught on camera

The Astana sports director who almost hit a volunteer marshal at the Tour de Yorkshire earlier this month has been suspended by the UCI.

The marshal, Philip Sullivan, was standing on a traffic island waving a pennant to warn riders and vehicles in the race convoy of the presence of the hazard, and had to jump out of the way as the team car driven by Lars Michaelsen ploughed through it.

Footage of the dramatic episode was shared by a spectator on social media.

> Astana apologise to marshal almost run over by team car driver

Michaelsen, a former pro who won Gent-Wevelgem in 1995 and a stage of the Vuelta two years later, has been banned by the UCI for 50 days and fined 5,000 Swiss Francs, equivalent to £3,700.

In a statement, the UCI said that the 46-year-old “will also collaborate with the UCI in delivering driver safety initiatives and share his experience as a driver in the race convoy.”

It added that the Dane had “accepted his responsibility for the incident.”

In conclusion, the UCI said that it “emphasises the importance of continuously working on measures aimed at improving road safety as well as acting on any such incidents from a disciplinary point of view in a fair and efficient manner.”

Following the incident in early May, Astana apologised and said that Michaelsen planned to volunteer at next year’s event where he would meet the marshal “for a beer.”

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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5 comments

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Morat | 5 years ago
0 likes

Should have been wearing high vis!  1

Avatar
NorthEastJimmy | 5 years ago
1 like

I was so sure whoever was driving would be sacked.  Always the same when it comes to people in higher positions getting off lightly.  

The man he nearly killed deserves more than a beer!

Avatar
BehindTheBikesheds | 5 years ago
1 like

Why not simply change the rules as to whom is allowed to drive and what they can do whilst driving, y'know like just driving the course and looking out for where the road turns, stuff/people in the road and where their riders are. Being on the walkie talkie/CB type device (why not a wired headset ffs?) looking out the side window and having a chat with your riders or handing over gels and shizzle is not on the agenda, that's distracted driving and leads to crashes and people getting hurt.

C'mon UCI do the right thing and take action ffs! 

Avatar
dassie | 5 years ago
5 likes

I wonder whether a team sports director should even be driving during a race?

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Leviathan | 5 years ago
0 likes

Strange how fast they managed to 'gather data' on this incident and make a decision. 

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