Cycling team director banned for car near-miss with official

AIGLE, Switzerland (AP) The International Cycling Union has suspended a team director for 50 days after the car he drove almost struck a race official in England.

The UCI says Lars Michaelsen, a sports director with the Astana team, accepted responsibility for the near-crash at the Tour of Yorkshire this month.

The suspension should expire before the Tour de France starts on July 7.

Michaelsen, a former professional rider from Denmark, is fined 5,000 Swiss francs ($5,000) and will ''collaborate with the UCI in delivering driver safety initiatives,'' the governing body says.

Michaelsen drove the car at the race official directing riders and support vehicles either side of a traffic island in the road.

The official escaped injury by jumping aside just before the car smashed through two meter-high metal road signs.