Pair of cyclists lash out at each other during Spanish Vuelta, get booted from race

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 1:15 p.m. ET

foxsports

Throwing punches is not the usual behavior of professional cyclists during a race.

Although jostling for position is common, the flailing of arms and elbows is rare. But that's what happened in the Spanish Vuelta on Monday.

Italian Gianluca Brambilla and Russia's Ivan Rovny got in a tussle while riding at the front of stage 16.

The pair landed elbows and slaps while staying on their bikes near the front of the pack.

Take a look at the well-balanced altercation:

Brambilla was reportedly angry that Rovny was interrupting the breakaway pacemaking.

During the later part of the stage, both riders were ejected for the bad behavior.