Media Monster

WATCH: Cyclist Is Disqualified From Tour De France For Head Butting

Australian cyclist Mark Renshaw caused a stir during Stage 11 of the Tour de France today when he used his head to ward off a fellow sprinter near the finish line while traveling around 35 miles per hour.

The stunt got him disqualified from the Tour and helped earn HTC-Columbia teammate Mark Cavendish the stage win, Cavendish’s third of the stage.

Starting a half kilometer from the finish, Renshaw appeared to hit rival lead-out man Julian Dean of the Garmin-Transitions team with his head several times. The impediment of Dean gave Renshaw the space to launch Cavendish to the sprint victory.

Renshaw voiced his displeasure with the judges’ decision, saying via Twitter:

I think today’s punishment was very harsh. I never imagined that i would ever be dq’d from the tdf. Very disappointed.

Tyler Farrar, the sprinter Dean was working for, begged to differ, telling Versus after the race that the Renshaw’s move wasn’t “normal” and that “he almost crashed everyone”.

Now we know that helmets are used to keep riders safe. But I’m only assuming some of the manufacturer’s guarantee of safety goes out the window when that helmet is used to bash into an opponent when he’s closing in on 40 miles per hour.