Tour de France polka dot jersey winner Warren Barguil has been kicked off the Vuelta a Espana by Team Sunweb for failing to obey team orders.

The Frenchman had been in 13th place, one place and two seconds ahead of Sunweb’s designated team leader, Wilco Kelderman, who lost 17 seconds as a result of a puncture near the end of yesterday’s stage.

In a statement, the team said: “The 25-year-old talented rider, a winner of two stages and the mountains jersey at the Tour de France, openly expressed that he didn’t wish to conform to team goals, which left Team Sunweb with no other option than to take this decision.

“Working according to a team plan with clear goals is deeply anchored in the team’s way of working. Since 2008 this has been the basis of the gradual growth and success of Team Sunweb, therefore is a value that cannot be varied. The team appreciates Barguil’s openness about his motives at the Vuelta.”

Barguil is of course leaving the team at the end of the season to join Fortuneo-Oscaro.

Reacting to the decision, he said: “I have to leave the Vuelta by the decision of the team. I feel very well and have good legs. I see myself in different a role and am eager to attack in the mountains, as I did in the Tour. The Vuelta is a great race and it is disappointing to leave but this is a decision from the team that I need to accept.”