Rovny, Brambilla come to blows at Vuelta a Espana
Gianluca Brambilla and Ivan Rovny's breakaway disagreement leads to an altercation in stage 16
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MADRID (AFP) — Italian Gianluca Brambilla (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) and Russia’s Ivan Rovny (Tinkoff-Saxo) came to blows while riding at the front of stage 16 at the Vuelta a España on Monday.
In bizarre circumstances, both men landed punches and elbowed each other while continuing to ride in the breakaway group of 13 riders on the 160.5km stage of the race from San Martin del Rey Aurelio to La Farrapona.
It is believed that the Omega Pharma-Quick Step rider was upset that Rovny was disrupting the pacemaking in the break.
Rovny even had to ask for a new pair of sunglasses from his Tinkoff-Saxo team car as they were broken in the altercation.
During the final part of stage, both riders were ejected from the race for the fight.