Images that no one wanted to see during the last climb of the Oude Kwaremont in the Tour: leader Mathieu van der Poel got beer (or so it seemed) and spit in the head from some fans, as well as a lot of boos. Tomas Van den Spiegel, the CEO of Flanders Classics, responds extensively on social media. “Zero tolerance is the only way forward. We cannot allow individuals to destroy the image of the sport.”
LOOK. Biergooiers on the Oude Kwaremont
The dust from the Tour of Flanders has settled. It was once again a great success for organizer Flanders Classics. There have never been more supporters at the Oude Kwaremont. According to the police, around 50,000 spectators came to cheer on the riders.
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Not all ‘supporters’ showed their best side. In the full final, some pelted world champion Mathieu van der Poel with beer and saliva. Avoiding such situations remains one of the biggest challenges according to Van den Spiegel. “Supporting in cycling is about passion and positivism, not about touching the integrity of the riders. Zero tolerance is the only way forward. We cannot allow individuals to destroy the image of the sport.”
Van den Spiegel also indicates that he will look at the role of the Koppenberg. Only three riders were able to climb to the top in the full final. Rode? The Koppenberg was much too slippery. “The Koppenberg may have to be used differently in the future. The combination of the sport on Saturday, suppliers, fans and racing vehicles using the cobblestone side and the late rain made it difficult for the men to drive up the hill.”
Flanders Classics even looked for solutions during the competition. “There is always a plan B, which was also discussed during the race, but changing the course at the last minute would have had consequences for both the support vehicles and the fans. The safest solution for everyone was to keep the Koppenberg in it,” said Van den Spiegel.
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Tags: individuals destroy image sport Flanders Classics CEO returns scandalous scenes Tour Cycling
