The Tour de France 2026 commissaires issued their second jury decision after stage 2 from Tarragona to Barcelona, with sanctions for irregular feeding, irregular rider assistance and a vehicle-movement breach.
There were no commissaires’ decisions after stage 1’s opening team time trial, making this the first sanctions communiqué of the 2026 Tour.
None of the decisions changed the stage result, general classification or jersey standings after stage 2. The most notable sanction was a yellow card for UAE Team Emirates XRG mechanic Bostian Kavcnik, who was fined for irregular assistance of a rider.
Quick summary
| Person | Team / role | Decision | Penalty | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pablo Castrillo Zapater | Movistar Team | Fine | CHF 200 | Irregular feeding, listed as a short-distance “sticky bottle” offence |
| José Joaquín Rojas | Movistar Team DS | Fine | CHF 500 | Team responsibility linked to irregular feeding |
| Bostian Kavcnik | UAE Team Emirates XRG mechanic | Fine and yellow card | CHF 500 and yellow card | Irregular assistance of a rider |
| Antoine Pezard | Commissaire driver | Warning | Warning | Breach of vehicle-movement rules during the race |
What were the stage 2 commissaires’ decisions?
The first decision concerned Movistar Team rider Pablo Castrillo Zapater. The commissaires fined him CHF 200 under article 2.12.007-4.11 for irregular feeding, described in the communiqué as a “sticky bottle” for a short distance.
Movistar Team directeur sportif José Joaquín Rojas was also fined CHF 500 under the same article.
The second decision concerned UAE Team Emirates XRG mechanic Bostian Kavcnik, who was sanctioned under article 2.12.007-4.9 for irregular assistance of a rider. Kavcnik received a CHF 500 fine and a yellow card.
The third decision concerned Antoine Pezard, listed as a commissaire driver. He received a warning under article 2.12.007-6.3 for breaching regulations or guidelines concerning vehicle movements during the race.
Did any stage 2 penalties affect the GC or jerseys?
No. The stage 2 commissaires’ decisions did not alter the stage result, the general classification or any of the jersey competitions.
Jonas Vingegaard remained in the yellow jersey after stage 2, while Isaac del Toro’s stage win moved him into the points and young rider classification picture. Alex Molenaar took the polka-dot jersey after the day’s climbing points, and UAE Team Emirates XRG moved into the lead of the team classification.
The decisions were therefore disciplinary rather than classification-changing.
Full list of stage 2 fines and sanctions
| UCI article | Person | Team / role | Sanction |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.12.007-4.11 | Pablo Castrillo Zapater | Movistar Team rider | CHF 200 fine |
| 2.12.007-4.11 | José Joaquín Rojas | Movistar Team directeur sportif | CHF 500 fine |
| 2.12.007-4.9 | Bostian Kavcnik | UAE Team Emirates XRG mechanic | CHF 500 fine and yellow card |
| 2.12.007-6.3 | Antoine Pezard | Commissaire driver | Warning |
What is a sticky bottle?
A “sticky bottle” is a common cycling term for a rider taking a drinks bottle from a team car but holding on for too long, gaining extra assistance from the vehicle.
Short contact during a bottle hand-up is normal. The problem comes when the rider effectively receives a tow, even briefly. Commissaires can fine riders and team staff if they judge that the assistance went beyond what is allowed.
In this case, the communiqué described the offence as irregular feeding, specifically a short-distance “sticky bottle”.
What does a yellow card mean in cycling?
A yellow card is a disciplinary warning used for certain race incidents. It is not the same as a football yellow card in terms of an immediate on-field punishment, but it matters because repeat offences can lead to stronger sanctions.
For stage 2, the yellow card was issued to UAE Team Emirates XRG mechanic Bostian Kavcnik for irregular assistance of a rider.
That does not change UAE’s stage result or team classification lead, but it is still the most significant disciplinary note from the communiqué.
Final word
The stage 2 commissaires’ decisions produced fines for Movistar Team, a yellow card and fine for a UAE Team Emirates XRG mechanic, and a warning linked to vehicle movements during the race.
The decisions did not affect the main race standings, but they are still worth recording as part of the daily Tour de France picture. The opening team time trial produced no jury decisions, so stage 2 marks the first sanctions report of the 2026 race.
