Giro d’Italia rider disqualified for headbutting rival and causing high-speed crash during “dangerous” Milan sprint

An Italian sprinter has been thrown out of the 2026 Giro d’Italia after a high‑speed clash in the closing metres of stage 15, when he appeared to lean into a rival and deliver a headbutt that sent the other rider crashing heavily. The incident occurred in the tight sprint finish in Milan, leaving the affected rider’s bike flying behind him and the peloton scrambling to avoid the fallout, though no one else was brought down.

Race officials reviewed video footage and ruled the move constituted an unsafe deviation from the rider’s line involving a “blow from the head,” which endangered another competitor. As a result, the sprinter was disqualified from the race, fined, had points stripped from his points‑classification standing, and was given a yellow card under the UCI’s updated rules.

The rider has since said there was no intention to injure or endanger anyone and has apologized for what happened, while also expressing disappointment at the severity of the sanction given the limited footage used to reach the decision. The rival involved was diagnosed with road rash and minor bruises but escaped major injury, and the stage ended with a neutralized result and a surprise winner in the chaotic finale. road.cc