Video: Why Orluis Aular was relegated after Vuelta sprint clash with Alexey Lutsenko
Orluis Aular was stripped of sixth place on stage 5 of the 2026 Vuelta a España after the race jury ruled that the Movistar rider had ridden dangerously in the closing kilometres. Alexey Lutsenko was also sanctioned with a yellow card for his role in the same incident.
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Aular initially crossed the line in sixth place in Roquetes, but the Venezuelan was later relegated to the back of the group by the commissaires and is officially classified 89th on the stage.
The incident happened just over two kilometres from the finish as Aular and Lutsenko fought for position ahead of the final sprint. The footage shows Aular moving sharply to the right while the two riders battled for space, with the jury later ruling that he had deviated from his line, obstructed another rider and created a dangerous situation.
Aular’s relegation was not the only sanction, with the Movistar rider also fined 500 Swiss francs, docked eight points and shown a yellow card.
Lutsenko was also sanctioned over the same incident. The NSN rider received a yellow card after the jury found that he too had deviated from his chosen line and endangered another rider during the sprint approach.
Matthew Brennan won the stage after finishing off a well timed Visma lead out in Roquetes, taking his second victory of this year's Vuelta.
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