Richie Porte’s time penalty in the Tour d’Italia has sparked a wave of outrage on Twitter

CYCLING fans have hit the Twittersphere voicing their outrage over Richie Porte’s two-minute penalty in the Giro d’Italia. Here’s a collection of some of the best tweets.

Twitter outrage at Richie Porte time penalty

Cycling fans have called for the race organises to reverse a decision to impose a two-minute penalty on Australian Richie Porte in the Giro d’Italia.

GIRO D’ITALIA: Porte pays ridiculous price for sportsmanship

LEO SCHLINK: Officials punish Aussie for the sake of it

And if the world governing body for cycling, the UCI, fails to act, punters want the peloton to take action into their own hands. The hashtag #supportporte was trending on Twitter soon after the decision.

Peloton should collectively strike for 2 minutes in the giro tomorrow #SupportPorte WTF UCI !! Massive lack of vision and humanity

— deborah john (@debrhijohn) May 19, 2015

Why don't they penalise the breakaway for working together. What's the diff between Clarke's wheel and some bozo spectators #SupportPorte

— Derek Nickels (@dekmadforracing) May 19, 2015

UCI is out of touch with reality. Reverse your decision and give #RichiePorte a fair chance to compete. #SupportPorte

— Max Affarano (@1cronoman) May 19, 2015

The Giro organisers should be celebrating sportsmanship like this not punishing it #Giro #orica #SupportPorte https://t.co/I3QHzXtlle

— Matthew Wraight (@mattwraight) May 19, 2015

If sportsmanship is against rules then tomorrow have a mass wheel swap inc everyone other than @richie_porte & @SimoClarke #SupportPorte

— Andy Martyr-Icke (@AndyMartyrIcke) May 19, 2015

Team Sky leader Porte punctured with 10km left on the 10th stage and was isolated from his Sky teammates in a frantic finale overnight.

Victoria’s Simon Clarke (Orica-GreenEDGE) spotted Porte, stopped, took out his front wheel and put it on Porte’s bike before giving the Tasmanian a push to restart.

But Clarke’s sportsmanship cut no ice with race organisers who hit both riders with a two-minute penalty and a fine. Race rules forbid riders from different teams helping rivals.

As well as calling for action, fans have also ridiculed the decision.

Person 1: My kidneys failed I need a knew one Person 2:Here you go take mine UCI: Sorry that's not allowed #Giro #SavePorte #SupportPorte

— Lawrence Benoy (@Lazza_the_B_Dog) May 19, 2015

Remember those cyclists who ignored the train crossing barrier at Paris Roubaix? No punishment. So much for rules are rules... #SupportPorte

— Man vs Bike (@ManVsBike) May 19, 2015

Sportsmanship in cycling = 2 minute penalty. Dope in cycling = 7 Tours. #SupportPorte

— Greg (@gregmorris95) May 19, 2015

Originally published as Richie Porte’s time penalty in the Tour d’Italia has sparked a wave of outrage on Twitter