Giulio Ciccone, Einer Rubio involved in ‘angry’ exchange as ‘red mist’ descends on Giro d'Italia - 'Get your popcorn out'

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Tensions were high during Stage 19 of the Giro d'Italia on Friday when a spat between two riders involved the pair exchanging heated words on their bikes.

'He was angry with me' - Ciccone explains fall out with Rubio

Video credit: TNT Sports

As Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) made a burst to claim more KOM (King of the Mountain) points to retain the lead in the Maglia Azzurra - the jersey given to the best climber - race, Movistar's Einer Rubio appeared out of nowhere to pip Ciccone to the points.

The pair could be seen talking to each other afterwards, with Ciccone shaking his head and gesticulating furiously towards Rubio, with the Italian expressing his anger that he had lost vital points towards his goal to win the Maglia Azzurra and with Rubio unlikely to challenge for the award.

After the race, Ciccone expressed his confusion at the moment.

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"I think he was upset because he wanted the [points]," Ciccone told reporters. "But it was also a game for the GC contenders who were looking for time.

"So he was angry at me as if it was my fault. But on the KOM point, I trusted him, and then he did an unfortunate move.

The Italian added: "It's a shame, I didn’t want any anxiety there. I just wasn't expecting it and I didn't fully really understand what happened with Rubio. But the plan in my head was to do this full gas because I knew it was a potential victory today."

Ciccone furious with Rubio after stealing KOM points – ‘What are you playing at?’

Video credit: TNT Sports

The incident occurred on the Passo Falzarego when Ciccone made a break to add to his Maglia Azzurra advantage.

But just as the Lidl-Trek cyclist separated from the pack, Movistar's Rubio also made a surge and crossed the line ahead of Ciccone.

In the moments after, Ciccone's displeasure with Rubio was obvious to see.

"A little look around [from Ciccone] - 'What are you playing at?' - a little shake of the head, and he's not happy," Rob Hatch said on TNT Sports commentary.

Hatch added: "Get your popcorn out. It's all happening at the Giro d'Italia. A 20km descent coming up and they've lit the blue touch paper."

Former cyclist and TNT Sports pundit Robbie McEwen hypothesised that perhaps Rubio was saying to Ciccone: "Well, your team-mate Derek Gee[-West] did it to me, so I'm doing it back to your team via you."

"The red mist has just descended for Giulio Ciccone," McEwen added. "Got to be careful riding on that sort of anger, technical descent. It's got to be controlled aggression."

After Stage 19, Ciccone remains atop the Maglia Azzurra standings, but just 57 points ahead of Jonas Vingegaard.

And Hatch explained that the incident involving Rubio could have big ramifications.

"If Jonas Vingegaard is to do his stuff at the Giro d'Italia today or tomorrow, that incident right there might get in the way of Ciccone taking the King of the Mountain's competition," he said.

Watch as Ciccone pushes away a fan during Stage 19 of Giro d'Italia

Video credit: TNT Sports

McEwen, a 12-time individual stage winner at the Giro d'Italia, said Rubio's move was "purely out of spite."

"There wasn't a way for him to do it back to [Ciccone's teammate] Derek Gee-West so he chose the next best thing: get back at the team. But it's at the cost of Giulio Ciccone."

Ciccone finished Friday's stage 36 seconds behind winner Sepp Kuss.

In the race for the Maglia Rosa - given to the winner of the general classification - Vingegaard has more than a four-minute lead over second-placed Felix Gall.

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