[jyl]

Interesting, UCI warned both Cav and Phillipsen against further line deviations on the morning before stage 6 started. That’s why Phillipsen got relegated when he deviated . . . on stage 6. Was he so anxious about Van Aert overtaking him that he decided to move on Van Aert despite having been warned that morning?

“Wielierflits reports Cavendish and his sprint rival Jasper Philipsen were issued slapped wrists by the governing body ahead of stage 6 on Thursday after they were ruled to have deviated from their lines in the melee of Wednesday’s record-breaking finale.
Officials were seen Thursday morning meeting with Astana-Qazaqstan and Alpecin-Deceuninck staff to threaten sanctions for any further irregularities.
The UCI’s move comes after safety concerns rattled through the Tour peloton in the aftermath of two fraught, crash-marred bunch finishes.
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, Intermarché-Wanty, Israel Premier Tech and several other teams are reported to have complained of dangerous sprinting after both stage 3 on Monday and Cavendish’s big day into Saint Vulbas on Wednesday.”

The UCI sprint rules say that after you launch your sprint, you cannot charge your lane in a manner that endangers other riders. Super vague and enforcement is inconsistent and usually meaningless (fine, relegation), with only one or two riders a year getting any stiffer penalty. Gronewegen got a huge suspension (for taking out Jakobsen), Bouhanni got a two month suspension.