After being disqualified from the Vuelta a Espana for hanging onto a team car, Vincenzo Nibali has issued an apology via his Faceboom page, as well as giving an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The following is the message from his Facebook page, translated into English by Cyclingnews:

“I want to publicily apologise for what happened, especially for the people who feel they are angry or ashamed of me!” Nibali wrote on his Facebook page, pushing back against the wave of criticism that has risen since video footage emerged showing him taking a tow from an Astana team car after being delayed by a huge crash in the peloton with 20km to go.”

“What happened at the Vuelta happens in every race, even if that does mean what I did isn’t right. I should have been punished. The race judges decide the right punishment.”

“I chased back on to show that I’m not hurt and was fine until taking a 150 metre tow - a mistake that people are ready to throw mud at me for and attack me for. Yet nobody talks about the people who attacked when others crashed, about a lone chase against 18 attackers. No sir. In cycling the race is the race and nobody waits for you!!”

“There are lots of episodes like this in cycling and especially so after a crash!! I thought I’d get a fine and time penalty that would take me out of the overall classification. I’d have even accepted a ten-minute penalty. After all, I won’t be the first or last to do this kind of thing.”

“I apologise again if I’ve stolen your time and thanks for the support you may or may not give me. See you soon! Vince.”

In the interview with La Gazzetta, he blames Aussie neo-pro Caleb Ewan (Orica-Greenegde) for the crash, and says none of his Astana teammates waited for him and he had to wait too long for his spare bike. Orica say Ewan was at the back of the peloton, with GoPro footage seemingly backing this up.

“It’s fair to say that things didn’t go right. Everyone saw how long I had to wait,” he said.

“Everybody was shouting in the radio: Aru, Aru, Aru…. Did you see who eventually gave me a bike? Martinelli. And how much time passed before I could start chasing? I made a mistake but I would perhaps have gone home anyway. What was the point in staying?”

“As I said, I was left abandoned. Even if I was feeling good. I was hoping to get through the first week without losing a lot of time. It’s frustrating that I’m going home without being able to demonstrate anything. But I’ve got to keep my mouth shut.”