Zeman, the directeur sportif of Jumbo Visma, has been expelled from the Tour de France for misconduct, according to an official announcement after stage 18 in La Roche-sur-Follon on Thursday.

In an official post-race communication, the Tour de France race jury said that after Wednesday's 17th stage, in which Zeman finished at the Meribel ski station at the top of the Col de la Rose, during a bike check of Primosch Roglic's yellow jersey bike He reportedly intimidated and insulted a UCI official.

Pursuant to UCI Article 8.2.2, Zeman was excluded from the race for "intimidation, insult and inappropriate behavior of a team member towards a UCI member during a bike check after stage 17," the fine stated.

In addition to his exclusion from the Tour de France, Zeman was fined CHF 2,000.

The UCI confirmed Zeman's ban from the Tour de France in a statement on Thursday, explaining that Zeman had behaved unacceptably towards UCI staff in X-raying and dismantling Primoz Rogerci's yellow jersey bicycle as part of a technical fraud check.

"The UCI Commissaires Panel, in accordance with Article 8.2.2 of the UCI Regulations, has issued an order to the team manager of the Jumbo-Visma team, Merijn Zeeman, for "intimidation, insult and inappropriate behavior of a team member towards a UCI member during the bike check at the end of stage 17". Merijn Zeeman was excluded from the Tour de France.

"In accordance with the UCI rules on combating technical fraud, Mr. Zeeman conducted an X-ray at the end of the stage at the Col de la Rose and behaved unacceptably towards the staff of the International Cycling Union (UCI), who were responsible for dismantling the yellow jersey bikes. The commissaires determined that.

"As a result, Mr. Zeman was excluded from the competition and fined CHF 2,000...The UCI has made the fight against technical fraud one of its priorities to ensure the credibility of the results and has urged all cycling families (riders, teams, organizers) to join forces to ensure the reputation of our sport s reputation, and we call on all of them to join forces to secure the reputation of the UCI."

Zeman's exclusion from the race with three stages remaining is a blow to Jumbo Visma. The Slovenian has a 36.2-km individual time trial from Relais to the top of La Planche des Belle Filles ahead of him.

Hours after Zeman's dismissal was announced, Jambovisma released a statement late Thursday night.

The team said Zeman reacted badly when UCI officials took apart the crankset of Roglic's bike, damaging it in the process, adding that the bike was found to be in compliance with UCI regulations.

On Friday, the UCI reversed this statement, insisting that the bikes were not damaged. Zeman said he became very emotional.

"The altercation that occurred during that check gave the UCI reason to sanction Merrin severely. Merrin apologized on the spot and, like the team, regrets that the argument became heated."

"To be clear, the check showed that GC leader Roglic's bike was in compliance with the regulations.

Zeman added that bike checks must be conducted in a reasonable manner, but that he should have acted calmly and more respectfully toward the UCI officials.

"When the commissioner removed the crankset from Primosch's bike, I was angry. We support a fair sport, and that includes checks, but they must be done in a reasonable manner." Despite this, I should have kept my cool and shown more respect to the UCI commissioner.

"I am devastated, but our yellow dream lives on," he said on Twitter.

Zeman will remain with the team in France, but "will not play an official role within the authorized area of the race," the team announced.