Zanoncello feels unfairly treated after Giro headbutt disqualification: 'Based only on a short clip'

The Italian was removed from the race by the commissaires after an incident in the final kilometres, when the peloton was sprinting for the minor places behind the day’s breakaway. Overhead footage showed Zanoncello involved in contact during the fight for position, before he moved across and came together with Robert Donaldson of Team Jayco AlUla. Donaldson was sent crashing heavily onto the road.

Race officials reviewed the images after the finish and handed Zanoncello a 1,000 Swiss franc fine, a yellow card and immediate disqualification from the Giro.

On Instagram, Zanoncello gave his version of events and said he regretted the outcome of the crash.

“I sincerely feel sorry for the guy involved in the fall,” he wrote. “I never wanted it to end this way.”

According to Zanoncello, the sprint was already chaotic before the incident happened. He said he had been hit on the left shoulder, lost control of his bike and then found himself with no room to avoid further contact.

“There was never any intention to harm or endanger anyone,” he added. “I’m really sorry about what happened.”

The Italian also suggested that the incident should not be judged solely on the basis of a short video clip, arguing that the wider images gave a clearer view of how the crash unfolded.

“I think it is unfair to judge what happened based only on a short clip,” Zanoncello wrote. “Seeing the full pictures, the dynamics seem different and clearer.”

At the same time, Zanoncello did not deny the seriousness of the incident or the consequences that followed. His Giro ended immediately, bringing a painful close to what had been his third appearance in the Italian Grand Tour.

“Leaving the Giro d’Italia this way hurts,” he said. “It’s definitely not how I wanted it to end.”

Zanoncello’s best result in this year’s race came in the opening week, when he finished ninth on the sprint stage into Naples.