Lotta Hentala refuted a race jury's claim that she clung to her team car on stage 6 of the Tour de France Femmes. Hentala and AG Insurance Soudal-Quick Step director Servais Knaven were disqualified with 70km remaining in Friday's stage to Blagnac.

Early reports suggested that Hentala and Knaven were disqualified because she clung to the team car, but the UCI Race Jury later confirmed this decision in an official communiqué after the stage. Both riders and their coach were also fined 200 Swiss francs.

Hentala was said to have held onto a water bottle for several seconds, but not onto the team car. Cyclingnews spoke to the team in Lannemezan on the morning of stage 7, and they felt that a fine was sufficient for holding onto the water bottle, but not disqualification.

"I wasn't feeling well and I was spinning out in the early stages of the race and got separated from the peloton," explained Hentala.

"Servais gave me a bottle to try to help me. But I didn't hang on to the car, like some people said, and it didn't make any difference to my performance.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

"In any case, good luck to the AG Insurance-Soudal-Quick Step team! You guys are stronger than you think and would be very proud of you! Good luck."

Stage 6 of the Tour de France Femme, 122.1 km from Albi to Blagnac, was a stage for sprinters.

Hentala was separated from the peloton on the Côte de Puyserci (1.9 km, 6% average gradient) with 71 km to go, and continued to lose time on the Côte du Clos Ploutier (2.8 km, 4.8%) with 64 km to go, leading to his disqualification.

AG Insurance-Soudal-Quick Step issued an official statement admitting that Hentala held onto his water bottle for 10 seconds. However, they felt that the race jury's decision to disqualify Hentara and Knaben for allegedly holding onto the team car while Hentara was driving was damaging to their reputation.

"During the race, a bidon was handed to Lotta, and both she and Servais held onto it for approximately 10 seconds, giving Lotta a brief respite. We understand that this was not in the spirit of the race," the team said in a statement on Saturday.

"However, AG Insurance-Soudal Quick Step, Servais and Lotta condemn the suggestion that Lotta was allowed to hold onto the car for an extended period of time." This was the charge levied against them by the race jury, which led to Lotta's and Servais' disqualification from the race.

"We expressed our disappointment with the race committee members, pointing out the unfairness of their actions and the damage done to the reputation of Lotta, Servais, and the AG Insurance-Soudal Quickstep team.