Tour de France : 2 Racers Disqualified After Shoving Incident in Sixth-Stage Sprint

Francis Castaing of France was declared the winner of the 137.6-mile sixth stage of the Tour de France Thursday after Belgian Eric Vanderaerden and Irishman Sean Kelly were disqualified for pushing in the closely bunched final sprint.

The ruling kept Denmark’s Kim Andersen, despite a sluggish performance, in the overall lead by 40 seconds over Vanderaerden following the stage between Roubaix, near Belgium, to Reims, in northern France.

Castaing, who said the race had become a war, covered the leg in 6 hours 29 minutes 23 seconds, just 10 seconds ahead of American Greg LeMond. Belgian Benny Van Brabant was third, with compatriot Jean-Philippe Van DenBrande fourth.

The 24-day, 2,485-mile test throughout France breezed through champagne country in hot, dry weather. The 169 riders left from the original 180 will head north today for the 134.8-mile seventh stage between Reims and Nancy.

The La Vie Claire team still held six places in the top 10 of the overall standings, with Andersen first, LeMond third and Bernard Hinault fourth. LeMond is 1:05 behind Andersen.

Riders were indignant after tempers flared during the 40-m.p.h. final sprint. Hinault, who is 1:07 behind Andersen, said: “It wasn’t necessary to ram rivals to get first place.”

Vanderaerden, who rides for the Raleigh team, was disqualified after referees watched the finish on videotape five times before voting, 3-1, against him and Kelly. The decision cost the Belgian his 30-second victory bonus and Kelly 10 bonus seconds for third place. They were placed at the back of the main bunch.

“I absolutely wanted to win. I won. It’s not the first time that sprinters have had to take risks,” the Belgian said.

Hinault, who has won this race four times, including last year, took a tough stance about the shoving match. “When I see that, I prefer not to participate in the final (sprint),” he said.

Italy’s Maria Canins won the fourth leg of the Women’s Tour de France, while French cycling star Jeannie Longo took over the lead. The 11.3-mile individual time trial was run between Sarcy and Reims.