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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Guardian sport

Women’s race apologises after winners are greeted by bikini-clad models

Jolien d’Hoore
Jolien d’Hoore, here winning the Tour of Flanders, was victorious in the Flanders Diamond Tour from Antwerp to Nijlen. Photograph: Tim De Waele/ Tim de Waele/Corbis

The organisers of the Lotto Cycling Cup have apologised after the winners of a women’s race in Belgium were greeted on the podium by bikini-clad models.

The Dutch racing cyclist and journalist Marijn de Vries described the scene at the finish of the Flanders Diamond Tour as “an utter disgrace” after the stage from Antwerp to Nijlen was won by the Wiggle Honda rider Jolien d’Hoore.

The Flanders Diamond Tour, a women’s road race, is the penultimate stage of the Lotto Cycling Cup and the organisers were quick to say sorry, pointing out: “We as @LottoCyclingCup want to apologise for the outrageous show o/t LOCAL organisation, we find it also inappropriate.

We as @LottoCyclingCup are not responsible for this show and let us look to the nice victory of @JolienDhoore @WiggleHonda.”

De Vries responded by saying: “It’s really good you apologise, but... was there no one of your organisation present at the race who could stop this?”

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