Getting a tow from a motorbike or team car is one thing, but to climb off and get into a team car is another entirely – especially when it isn’t your team’s either.

Eduardo Sepulveda’s debut Tour de France came to a premature end last month after he suffered a broken chain on a steep climb with 23km to go on stage 14.

The Argentine rider became stranded as his team car continued up the road, and when Ag2r-La Mondiale stopped to offer him a spare wheel he – panicking – climbed into the car as he could not walk with his cleats on to where his own car had stopped.

The impromptu lift, which Ag2r team manager Vincent Lavenu said came with the Argentine in a clear panic, only lasted 100m but rules meant he had to be disqualified.

Both teams called the sanctions harsh, in the context of the incident, but with little choice the commissaires were forced to send a hugely apologetic Sepulveda home.