Alexander Kristoff (Intermarque-Wanty-Gobert Materio) waved his arms in anger at Jordi Meeus (Bora-Hansgrohe) near the end of the first stage of the Volta ao Algarve.

Christophe was behind eventual winner Fabio Jacobsen (Quick Step-Alfa Vinyl) and appeared to have the speed to at least fight for second place until Meeus closed the door on the left side of the road.

Kristoff waved his arms in protest, and the race judge quickly ruled in his favor, pushing Mies to the back of the pack and moving Brian Kokar (Cofidis) into second place and Kristoff into third.

The podium spot, however, was little consolation for the veteran Norwegian sprinter.

"I felt good, I thought I could have been close, but I had to stop pedaling," Kristoff told Cycling News and other media at the finish in Lagos.

"For me, he changed the line. I was coming from the left side and the line was clear. But he moved me to the barrier and I hit a lot of spectators with my shoulder.

According to a video posted online, Christophe did indeed knock a man's cell phone off with his left shoulder.

Mies, however, said he did not change his line and felt the decision to take second place was wrong. 'I could have caught Jacobsen steering perfectly, but I didn't have the legs to challenge him today. 'After Saudi Arabia I wasn't feeling well and couldn't train for a few days,' he said. I think we made the wrong decision to relegate him after that. We didn't change the line and I think we could have had a normal sprint. Anyway, we have to accept this decision.

Christophe also admitted that there was little he or Intermarque Wanty-Gobert Materio could do against the lead group of Quick-Step Alphavinir, which included Remco Evenpole and Yves Lampère.

"It was a technical sprint with lots of roundabouts and I was a little too far back. I couldn't get in front of the quickstep and unfortunately at the end, when you are a little bit behind, you always risk being blocked," he explained.

"I'm a little disappointed and annoyed that I couldn't sprint to the finish because I felt there was a clear line.

Kristoff will probably get another chance to sprint again on stage 3 to Faro, but he will survive the late climbs and undulating stage profile.