by Our Sports Desk

ERITREAN rider Natnael Berhane intervened after being racially abused in the Tour of Austria pelaton to stop the perpetrator being kicked off the race.

MTN-Qhubeka, the first African team to ride at the Tour de France, claimed Berhane was called a “nigger” on Wednesday by Branislau Samoilau, a Belorussian who rides for the CCC Sprandi Polkowice team.

Officials from the Polish squad will meet after the Tour of Austria to determine the punishment.

World governing body UCI has confirmed the abuse was racist and said Samoilau had offered to donate a month’s salary to the team’s foundation, an offer that was acceptable to all sides.

MTN-Qhubeka team principal Douglas Ryder said Berhane did not wish for further sanctions and rejected an offer from UCI to have the rider kicked off the tour.

The South African squad is beginning to make an impact on major races and Daniel Teklehaimanot claimed the Tour de France’s King of the Mountains polka dot jersey on Thursday, retaining it in yesterday’s seventh stage.

Ryder says MTN-Qhubeka have faced no racial abuse at their first participation in cycling’s biggest race, but that every team faces hostility.

“The globalisation of the sport is a good thing and I think the Tour de France has been amazing in that.

“There’s been bullying in the peloton before, but that’s across every team; that’s not specifically for us. It just happens.”