Huub Artz (Lotto-Intermarché) dropped out of the breakaway on stage 5 of the Tour de France, shortly after lengthy discussions with the race officials that apparently centred on his position on the bike.
The Dutch rider was pulled up by the vehicles of the UCI race commissaires, and on the television coverage he could be heard asking them: "What's the limit? Can you explain what's wrong? Everybody does it."
The cameras then showed one of the officials inside the car bending forward to mimic an aerodynamic position on the bike. Along with earlier footage of Artz in the race, it was soon apparent that this related to the rule that states a rider cannot use the forearms as a point of support on the bike.
Latest Videos From
Artz was not happy and, after telling his breakaway companion Mads Pedersen what had happened, he eased up and let his breakaway sail away.
At first, it looked like he might have been ordered to stop, perhaps even disqualified from the race, but the various on-bike television commentators soon confirmed that he had simply received a warning for an illegal position.
Eurosport's Jens Voigt indicated that Artz was frustrated and so, with the breakaway's lead only slim, threw in the towel.
The forearms rule came into force in 2021, in response to safety concerns over the so-called 'puppy paws' position in which riders would rest their wrists on the handlebars and let their hands flop over the front, in search of a more aerodynamic position.
Riders have adapted and now make sure their hands are in contact with the hoods at all times, but some still lower themselves so their forearms are also in contact with the bars.
There is some inconsistency in the way the rule is policed. Artz's position is a common one in the pro peloton, and soon enough footage emerged of Victor Campenaerts (Visma-Lease a Bike) adopting a very similar position in the very same breakaway.
It is understood that riders might receive a warning in a race, with repeat infractions leading to disqualification. That was the case with Jan Willem Van Schip, who recently said he doesn't "feel welcome in cycling" after being cut from a race by the UCI over the forearm position.
The world’s biggest bike race deserves world-class coverage. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our unrivalled reporting of the 2026 Tour de France. From Barcelona through to Paris, our experienced team will bring you breaking news, expert insight, and in-depth coverage from every stage as the battle for the yellow jersey plays out. Plus, access the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on the go! Find out more.
