Man who threw bike into path of Giro d'Italia riders to be deported from Italy

A man who threw a bicycle into the path of riders at the Giro d’Italia last week is to be deported from the country, it has been revealed.

The shocking incident happened as a three-man breakaway – including eventual stage winner Damiano Cima – sped through the town of Conegliano in the Veneto on last Thursday’s Stage 18 of the race.

Another spectator ran onto the road to retrieve the bike just as the riders approached to avert what could have been a serious crash.

What's all this about?! #Giro pic.twitter.com/7QOQkfPOVv

— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) May 30, 2019

The culprit – seen in the above video walking away from the scene, wearing a grey hoodie – was arrested shortly afterwards.

EF-Education First rider Sacha Modolo subsequently posted footage to Twitter showing the incident from another angle.

pic.twitter.com/BZsXxKhpXs

— Sacha Modolo (@SachaModolo) May 30, 2019

The man has since been identified as a 44-year-old Tunisian national, living in Vittorio Veneto, and with previous drug-related convictions, reports Oggi Treviso.

The newspaper says that a file has been opened to have him deported from the country as soon as possible.