Riders on the Tour de France have been reminded that they are not allowed to use mobile phones on the race – after Katusha’s Luca Paolini was snapped on Saturday’s Stage 8 with one in his hand.
Photographer Graham Watson spotted the device in the Italian’s hand as he passed him on his photo moto, and tweeted this picture.
This wouldn't be Luca Paolini texting from his iPhone in today's stage, would it – at about 60-kph..! http://t.co/Spbcz5ZniL
— Graham Watson (@grahamwatson10) July 12, 2014
Paolini took to Twitter after the stage to explain he wasn’t writing a text message or email but had forgotten he had the phone in his pocket and had taken it out to switch it off before passing it to the team car.
He also apologised for breaking the rules and apologised to the race jury for letting him off with a warning – although he was back in their sights yesterday as they fined him 50 Swiss Francs for an infraction according to the official race communication from Stage 9.
Race organisers ASO issued a reminder to all teams that "the use of mobile phones by riders during the race is not allowed under article 9 of the race rules and article 2.2.024 of the UCI’s regulations".
22 thoughts on ““I’m on the bike!” – Luca Paolini snapped with mobile phone in hand during Tour de France”
I presume he’s rapidly gone
I presume he’s rapidly gone to twitter and deleted all his #tdfselfies
oh come on – buy a hands free
oh come on – buy a hands free kit u plonker X(
Is he wearing a dirt jump
Is he wearing a dirt jump lid?
‘That Sporty Finger game is
‘That Sporty Finger game is just so damn addictive.’ (Or was it Angry Birds?)
That’s a really nice picture
That’s a really nice picture of Luca Paolini on a phone on a bike.
He’s really with T-Mobile.
He’s really with T-Mobile.
Airzound wrote:He’s really
Well if he had crashed it would have been Everything Everywhere
kitkat wrote:Airzound
02ouché
He’s setting a reminder: buy
He’s setting a reminder: buy razor blades
Oooooo The Banter
Oooooo The Banter =))
Angry Birds? – more like he’s
Angry Birds? – more like he’s playing Sporty Fingers, so he can ride the Tour de France using just the power of his finger =))
Hipster. Probably has an
Hipster. Probably has an espresso in his bottle too.
bikeyourbest wrote:Hipster.
:)) looks like some London urban cyclist that got caught up in the peloton when they came through the other day and hasn’t been found out yet…
Seems like a good idea for a
Seems like a good idea for a Dom Joly Trigger Happy TV sketch =))
Shades wrote:Seems like a
“I’m in the TdF…nah, its rubbish!”
Also, I’m impressed they already have a rule for this – is there anything they _don’t_ have a rule for?
(Are ipods allowed? I reckon one would go faster if ipod-assisted).
I bet he jumps red lights
I bet he jumps red lights too. 😀
Annoying hipster. I bet he’s
Annoying hipster. I bet he’s one of them that says ‘ciao’ instead of goodbye…
Don’t these ‘Top End’ Canyon
Don’t these ‘Top End’ Canyon models come with Bluetooth phone kits! =))
He’s obviously just checking
He’s obviously just checking his Strava segment times. Nothing to see here.
“Get the pasta on, love, I’ll
“Get the pasta on, love, I’ll be home in about an hour x”
Paolini is concerned about
Paolini is concerned about Froome sitting at home bored so is just taking a photo of his stem and sending it to Chris
PPI? I know how you feel Luca
PPI? I know how you feel Luca mate!