Team Sky could sack Gianni Moscon after Tour de France disqualification for punching Elie Gesbert

Moscon, a key domestique who was set to have an important role supporting Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas through the Tour’s climax, hit Fortuneo-Samsic’s French rider Elie Gesbert

Team Sky could sack their Italian rider Gianni Moscon once the Tour de France is over, after he was disqualified from the race for punching a fellow rider.

Moscon, a key domestique who was set to have an important role supporting Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas through the Tour’s climax in the Pyrenees, was caught hitting Fortuneo-Samsic’s French rider Elie Gesbert around 800m into Sunday’s stage 15

He finished the stage, helping Team Sky to control the peloton and maintain their tight grip on the yellow jersey currently held by Thomas, before being told by race commissaires he would take no further part due to an act of “serious aggression”.

Moscon has previous for bad behaviour, having racially abused French cyclist Kévin Réza during last year’s Tour of Romandie, which resulted in a six-week ban by Team Sky. He was also disqualified from the world championships for holding on to a team car, and was investigated over allegedly pushing an opponent off their bike.

In a statement on Sunday night, Team Sky accepted the decision and said his future would be considered after race. “We support and accept the decision,” said team principal Sir Dave Brailsford. “We will address this incident with Gianni once the Tour is complete and decide then if any further action should be taken.

“I would like to offer my sincere apologies to both Elie Gesbert and Team Fortuneo Samsic for this unacceptable incident.”

Moscon apologised in a video message posted by Team Sky. “What happened was wrong and was a bad example coming from me to everyone,” he said. ”I want to publicly apologise for what happened, to my team-mates, to everyone involved in Team Sky, and everyone involved in the Tour de France.”