Giro d’Italia: Wout Poels and Dani Martinez in furious exchange over dropped bottle as Luke Plapp 'almost comes to blows'
By Will Conroy
Published 26/05/2025 at 12:45 GMT+1
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Wout Poels and Dani Martinez shared a furious exchange on Stage 15 of the Giro d’Italia after the Red Bull rider appeared to drop a bottle onto the road. The object landed in the path of Luke Plapp, who was unable to avoid riding over it but somehow stayed on his bike. Poels directed some animated gestures towards the Colombian before the pair had what appeared to be a heated conversation.
Poels confronts Martinez over dropped bottle as Plapp almost goes down
Video credit: TNT Sports
There was a furious exchange between Woet Poels (XDS Astana) and Dani Martinez (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) on Stage 15 of the Giro d’Italia after the Colombian appeared to drop a bottle, nearly causing Luke Plapp (Jayco-AlUla) to crash.
The incident occurred around 62km into the stage between Fiume Veneto to Asiago, which at 217km, is the second longest of the race.
Replays of the incident show the bidon falling from Martinez’s bike onto the road and into the path of Plapp, who was only a matter of metres behind.
The Australian’s front wheel goes over the bidon, causing it to veer to the side, but he does remarkably well to recover the situation and avoid a crash.
A few moments later, Poels could be seen waving his arm in the air at Martinez, appearing to gesture that the 29-year-old should have made sure the bidon was not on the road.
The pair can then be seen exchanging words in what appears to be a fairly heated conversation.
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Highlights: Roglic leaks time as Verona takes the day
Video credit: TNT Sports
It was not the best of afternoons for Martinez’s Red Bull camp, as Primoz Roglic's hopes of a second Giro d'Italia title took a huge dent.
The 35-year-old leaked 90 seconds on his main rivals, leaving him almost four minutes adrift of Isaac del Toro (UAE Emirates XRG) in the leader's pink jersey with a week to go.
- Roglic's Giro bid unravels as Verona wins Stage 15
- 'What on earth?' - UAE chase down their own leader as controversy erupts at Giro
Meanwhile, it was Carlos Verona (Lidl-Trek) who claimed victory after attacking with 42km to go and holding off the chase group to win by over 20 seconds.
There was further controversy on Sunday’s stage, though, with Juan Ayuso (UAE) helping to chase down team-mate and general classification leader Del Toro, bringing the team's closest rival in Visma-Lease a Bike's Simon Yates back into contention.
The riders return to action for Stage 16 on Tuesday, which will be the most difficult stage yet, taking the 203km route from Piazzola sul Brenta to San Valentino.
Watch the 2025 cycling season, including the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana, live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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