UCI (Union Cyclistique Internationale) Davide Bramati of Detunink-Quickstep (open in new tab) removes an object from the pocket of the Belgian rider's jersey after his season-ending crash at Il Lombardia (open in new tab) Following the release of the video, he reportedly launched an investigation into Lemco Evenpole (opens in new tab).

The video, posted on Twitter earlier this week, showed Bramati placing a small white object in his pocket as Evenpore lay on his side waiting for medical attention.

On Friday, the Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad (opens in new tab) reported that the UCI had asked the Cycling Anti-Doping Foundation (CADF) to investigate the incident.

"We have asked the CADF to further investigate the television footage and to question witnesses about the object that came out of Evenpoel's pocket," UCI President David Lapartiento said Friday.

Lapartiento also questioned a statement (open in new tab) released by Bramati shortly after the crash, in which he said the Italian knew in advance that Evenpoel had crashed because "the data had stopped."

"The director sportif said he thought that Evenpoel had crashed because the data stopped transmitting," Lapartiento said. 'After all, it is forbidden to transmit certain data. So we are keeping an eye on that as well. If it's just about geographic location, that's one thing, but sharing other data is forbidden."

UCI regulations allow the use of onboard technology with the ability to transmit data, information, and images, such as telemetry, transponder units, GPS units, and video cameras (Rule 1.3.024 (open in new tab)), but it is unclear what data the lapartient data was referring to is unclear.

Evenpoel broke his pelvis in a crash on the descent of Solmano late in the race. He remains hospitalized in Belgium. Last week he took his first steps after the crash, supported by crutches and hospital staff (open in new tab).

On Wednesday, La Gazzetta dello Sport (open in new tab) asked Bramati about the footage and the Italian replied that he took food and a radio out of his pocket as Evenpoel had to lie on a stretcher.

"It's not illegal," Bramati said. 'I don't understand why they would think that. Because after Lemko lay on the stretcher, he had to be immediately placed on a gurney.

"So I took away his radio, gels, bars, and a 'jar' of sugar. There is another picture of his helmet being removed. That's all."

On Friday night, when interviewed by Cycling News, Detunink-Quickstep said it would not comment on the matter yet. On Saturday, the UCI stated: "Based on images circulating on the Internet, the CADF has spoken with team representatives. The investigation is ongoing and the UCI will not comment further at this stage."

Deceuninck-QuickStep team boss Patrick Lefebvre condemned the investigation on Twitter. This veteran team boss said: "This is proof that the CADF is not neutral, since they say they operate independently of the UCI. This is clearly not true."