Nibali 'hitches a ride' out of Vuelta

Italian cyclist Vicenzo Nibali was expelled from the Vuelta de Espana (Tour of Spain) on Sunday after the race judges considered he had received too much help from his team after a fall in the second stage of the race.

The former winner of the Vuelta and the winner of the 2014 Tour de France, was involved in a fall 30 kilometers from the finish in Camino del Rey (close to Malaga) and at one stage was a minute and 30 seconds down on the main peleton.

The Italian who won the 2010 edition of the race, was able to re-connect with the group in the closing kilometers, but was expelled after video emerged of the car from his Astana team drawing level with him, after which he seems to grab hold of the car and accelerate away from the riders with him at a "suspicious" speed.

The Astana team asked for 'lenience' for his offence, but the race organizers applied a zero tolerance policy in regard to cheating and Nibali will watch the rest of the game on TV. Endite