Wednesday 2 September 2015 20:14, UK
Oleg Tinkov has threatened to pull his team out of the Vuelta a Espana after a second Tinkoff-Saxo rider was hit by a television motorbike.
Team principal Tinkov was already furious over the race-ending injuries Peter Sagan suffered in a collision with a motorbike on stage eight.
But Tinkov's anger reached a new level on Wednesday, when Sergio Paulinho became the latest rider to withdraw from the race after being hit by another motorcycle.
The Portuguese rider suffered a deep leg wound and had to be taken to hospital, where he received 17 stitches.
Tinkov reacted angrily on Twitter, writing: "Believe you or NOT? But Sergio Paulinho was hit today by TVE motorcycle and end up at hospital w/17 stitches. What a messy and shallow race!
"I'm considering now to take the team off the #Vuelta2015 . Boycott #ASO for this. They pay us NO money for the race and even damage riders."
The team confirmed it was considering pulling out of the Vuelta in a statement released on Wednesday evening.
It read: "Can organizers of Vuelta a España guarantee a safe race? Given the seriousness of the two accidents that involved riders of Tinkoff-Saxo at the Vuelta a Espana, the team will consider whether it is safe to continue racing under the current arrangements."
