Steels complains about Brown

Tom Steels, who crashed badly in a bunch sprint at the second stage of the Tour of Qatar, has sent a letter of complaint about the accident to the UCI. The Predictor-Lotto sprinter had to undergo medical treatment in a Doha hospital at the time for a broken collarbone and receive six stitches to his head.

Steels blamed Rabobank sprinter Graeme Brown for his fall, and now wants the UCI to react. "I made it clear to the UCI how unsafely Brown sprinted and what injuries I suffered," the Belgian told the Telegraaf.

"If things like these remain unpunished, the UCI commissaires risk that a beautiful discipline like this becomes a common boxing match. That would be a sin. I hope that the UCI follows it up."