Reaction Andrei Grivko
Today's incident on Tour of Dubai.
I would like to reveal my vision on the incident, which became a reason of our conflict situation with Marcel Kittel.
I am in cycling since 12 years old and like everyone I understand that it is normal, when the sprinters are fighting for position with 3 km to the finish line. But, when it happens with 100 km to go in such a rough style and under such a tough weather conditions, it brings a very big danger to the riders.
Thus, in the fighting for position, and as it was confirmed by Kittel himself, he has roughly pushed with his shoulder firstly my teammate Dmitriy Gruzdev and then me, creating a very tense and dangerous situation that could cause not only my fall, but a big crash in the peloton.
I responded with aggressive action to aggressive action from the other side. Perhaps, I got emotional and it has nothing to do with cycling, but in extreme situations, when exists a question of safety, it is difficult to stay calm.
I believe, that such behavior, endangering the lives and health of athletes, because of their selfishness, has nothing to do with cycling as well. In peloton we are all equal and have equal rights to positions occupied by us, it doesn’t matter if you are a famous sprinter or neo-pro. We should equally respect each other.
By me, it is also a manifestation of unsportsmanlike conduct, when you require giving you a place only because you are a famous rider or you are not in a good mood.
After that incident, Kittel was repeatedly, in the truest sense of the word, spit in my direction, which I also believe has nothing to do with cycling.
I can assure that it was not "an attack on the rival”, arose out of nowhere. Moreover, as it was noted by Kittel, my weight is 70 kg against his 86.
However, once again I apologize to the race organizers, to all the fans, and of course, to my team for this unpleasant incident, which led to my exclusion from the race.