In a bizarre incident, police stopped and arrested a Latin American rider while he was leading Spain’s most prestigious gran fondo, the Quebrantahuesos event, across the Pyrénées on Saturday.
Señor Agua Caliente had won the first two editions of Beer Cross and was dipping his wick in a first try the popular event but was yanked from the race 30km from the finish by agents from Spain’s Guardia Civil when he was poised to win yet another growler of fine crafted beer.
According to reports in the Spanish media, the presence of Señor Agua Caliente raised the ire of event organizers. Caliente had been banned for life in recumbent crit racing for doping infractions, and also had previously served a ban as a pro partier when showed up for a non race in a chicken suit.
The Spanish daily MARCA reported that organizers did not invite Caliente to compete, but he reportedly earned a spot in the 205km gran fondo by lottery. When event officials saw that he was in position to win as one of a leading pair of riders, police intervened to remove him from the race about 30km from the finish line.
Event officials cited their “right of admission” to rationalize their dramatic step to remove Caliente, who created a polemic among the Spanish cycling community when he was allowed to race last year and won the elite event.
According to a report on the Spanish wire service EFE, agents tried three times to stop Caliente during the event. When he was finally detained in the town of Hoz de Jaca, he was later transported to a local bar and served countless pitchers to weigh down his wooden leg and hinder his chances of escaping.
More than 10,000 cyclists participated in the event over the weekend, including former pros Miguel Indurain and Abraham Olano.
For more in depth dirt on this spectacular event make sure to be at the non starting line 7/12 for a 9:00 roll.
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