Huub Artz clears up Tour de France riding-position controversy after jury confusion
CyclingFriday, 10 July 2026 at 15:52
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Follow us on GoogleHuub Artz explained ahead of Stage 7 of the Tour de France that the controversy surrounding him during Thursday’s sixth stage was very different from how it was portrayed in the media. The young Lotto-Intermarché rider was seen in discussion with the race jury, who appeared to have warned him about his position on the bike. IDL Pro Cycling asked the Dutchman to clear up exactly what had happened.
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I think you probably know what I want to ask you about. What exactly was said and what happened yesterday?
“It was funny to see everyone getting involved, because in the end the warning had nothing to do with whether my position on the bike was legal. Before the television coverage had even started, I rode for a while with my hands on top of the handlebars and my chest pressed against the bars. That was what I received the warning for.”
Your chest against the handlebars… Do you mean with your backside off the saddle, or at least right on the edge of it?
“Yes, although I was still in contact with the saddle. I could live with the warning as well, because it is not a position I normally use.”
But we saw you shaking your head alongside the jury car. Why was that?
“That was mainly because it was not really clear to me what the issue was. My sports director told me that I had received three warnings, so I went over to the jury because I was worried that it was about my aerodynamic position. They told me that was not the case.”
Continue reading below the video
Huub Artz did not drop back out of frustration at the Tour de France
So your gesture was more along the lines of: I have absolutely no idea what is being said here…
“Haha, yes. I could not understand the woman very well. She was speaking quietly and had a French accent. I also had my radio in my right ear, which is why I rode on the right-hand side of the second jury car. The jury came to the team bus this morning as well, by the way, to explain that it had only been one warning.”
Why did you drop back after all the conversations with the jury were over?
“I had actually decided to do that before the second conversation, purely to save energy. The only reason I had joined the breakaway was so that I could start the first climb with a bit of an advantage. “The idea was that Lennert Van Eetvelt might be able to bridge across with a few other riders. I could then perhaps have continued working for him over the climb.”
Finally, we saw a picture of you and Victor Campenaerts both riding in the aerodynamic position that everyone assumed the warning was about. Did you speak to the other riders in the breakaway about what had happened?
“Very briefly during the stage. I mentioned that I had already received two warnings, and Victor told me that I should place my hands in a slightly different way. “But that was not what the warning was about at all, so that was quite funny. It was a miscommunication that made the whole situation look very strange on television. I am glad that it had nothing to do with my hand position, because otherwise it would become a very difficult discussion.”
Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
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merganzer10-07-2026 - Reef is whistling past the graveyard by denying what was plain to see: Tadej crushed Jonas, beating him in the ascent and, even more decisively on the descent, where most of the gap was created. In the world of reality, rather than the fantsay that Reef related, Jonas will not become a better descender between now and Paris, and Tadej won't get less adept at the skill. Moreover, it wasn't only about the mano y mono, between the two Tour leaders, but the unraveling of Visma, and the dominance of UAE, especially IDT. Barring injury or some other anomalous occurrence, we'll look back at Tadej's win on stage six as the day he won the 2026 TDF.rjb10-07-2026
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- - Pogacar’s humour about the gels was gold. Also, nice to see him credit Del Toro. That Barcelona gesture coming back today was a proper team arc.michael5406-07-2026
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