Filippo Ganna disqualified in the final stage of the Tour de la Provence

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Filippo Ganna disqualified in the final stage of the Tour de la Provence

A dream week ended in a nightmare for Filippo Ganna after he was disqualified on the final stage of the Tour de la Provence.

The Italian, who won the opening prologue, slipped out of the leader's jersey at the Montagne de l'Hure summit finish, but still managed to hold on to a top-10 overall position.

After the race, the results sheet was revised and Gana was listed as "DSQ" (disqualified) and his name was not listed in the final overall standings.

The reason appeared to be a mid-race bike change, which the UCI race officials deemed illegal.

Ganna stopped near the front of the pack just past the halfway point of the final stage and nodded to the camera. And it appeared that he had switched from his regular disc-brake bike to a rim-brake bike, which is lighter and more advantageous for the big final climb.

Switching bikes mid-stage is allowed, but must be serviced by a team car at the back of the pack. The rule that Gana appears to have violated is to switch bikes at a designated spot along the roadside.

The UCI rules state: "Mechanical assistance at a fixed place on the track is limited to wheel changes only, except in races on circuits where bike changes are allowed in permitted zones.

Ganna entered the stage with a two-second lead over Julian Alaphilippe (Quick Step Alfa Vinyl), but the terrain on the final day of racing meant that there would always be an overall shakeup, with or without a DSQ in the results.

Nairo Quintana (Arkea-Samsic) jumped up from 10th to the GC win with a solo stage win at the top of Montagne de Lure. Alaphilippe paid the price for trying to keep up with Quintana, finishing 7th, but it was enough to keep him in 2nd place overall.

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