If Saturday’s crash on the Cipressa during the women’s Milan-San Remo looked brutal, the comments sections looked worse. Thankfully, the riders are all reasonably ok. The people taking time to comment, definitely are not alright. And riders are getting sick of it.
Cecile Lejune, a French road racer turned gravel pro, went too far into the comments section of a post replaying the crash. The disrespect and just plain ugliness she saw there stayed with her enough that she decided she couldn’t not say something.
“I was very upset by what certain people were choosing to share about it. Certain comments stuck with me all evening and were bothering me all throughout my Sunday ride,” Lejune shared. “The following may not do much to change the situation, but it’s my way of dealing with the anger I’m carrying right now.”
Lejune reposted some of the comments, juxtaposed with a reminder of what actually happened to those racers involved in the crash. The cruelty and sexism reeks through the screen.
It should go without saying that these racers are all incredible athletes and highly skilled on a bike. But if you have forgotten that crashes are part of cycling for all riders, not just the women’s peloton, maybe go re-watch the part of MSR where reigning world champion Tadej Pogacar crashes and takes several of the favourites down with him in what he admits was a moment of inattention.
The comments weren’t limited to the racers. Several took to TNT Sports broadcaster Orla Chennaoui’s personal Instagram page to say how unimpressed they were with her live commentary after TNT posted a fun, behind-the-scenes look at what the broadcast team was up to while watching MSR’s stunning men’s finale.
Chennaoui rightfully took issue with the comments, but also with the lengths that these people had gone to to provide her with that feedback on her personal page, not the original TNT post. The commentator reposted some of the worst notes, as well as her far more positive and productive reply.
Some humanity, please
If all of that is more than a bit frustrating, Saturday’s racing produced some reminders that there is still good in humanity too.
Chennaoui’s message focused on all the other comments TNT’s post elicited. “I have resolutely decided to never let the negativity win” adding to “Crack on with kindness.” She also added that she is “so grateful for all the beautiful messages of joy I receive from others who share my passion.”
AG Insurance Soudal also added to the positivity column. Kim Le Court-Pienaar and Mireia Benito, two of the teams riders chose to stay with the fallen riders rather than rejoin what was still the front of the race. The team shared notes from both riders after the race that are a welcome counterpoint to the dumbass comments you can find on the crash footage.
“We should never reach a point where a result matters more than a life. That crash looked really nasty,” Benito shared. “Having someone next to you, holding your hand, even if you don’t know her, can make a difference. When you’re on the ground alone, not knowing what just happened, it can be truly scary.”
“Some things are just bigger than cycling,” Le Court-Pienaar added.
AG-Soudal’s post drew supportive comments from former world champion Lotte Kopecky and even Kasia Niewiadoma Phinney, one of the riders caught up in the crash, who thanked the rider’s for stopping.
Saturday’s racing at Milan-San Remo, women’s and men’s, was thrilling. While crashes are always hard to watch and we never want to see another rider seriously injured in one, crashes have nothing to do with the rider’s gender.
We can’t wait to watch the next big races this weekend. And, if you are going to get into the comments section of any post, please remember that the riders are humans, too. This world needs more Kim Le Court-Pienaar and Mireia Benito’s and less of whoever the people behind those troll accounts are.