The dramatic finale of the Women’s European Cyclocross Championships in Zeddam has had repercussions. Marie Schreiber’s disqualification following the sprint against Lucinda Brand sparked a great deal of controversy, and now the Limburg Cycling Federation has also taken action. The Fédération du Sport Cyclisme Luxemburgeois (FSCL) has filed an official complaint with the UEC (European Cycling Union).
Schreiber and team was devastated by decision to relegate
It was such a fantastic race between Brand and Schreiber. After Ceylin Alvarado fell behind in the final lap, the Dutch and Luxembourg riders had to battle it out in the sprint. Schreiber won that battle, but veered slightly off her line. It seemed harmless, but the jury decided to intervene. Schreiber was demoted to second place, and the world champion was also crowned European champion.
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It sparked furious reactions from Schreiber and her team. “They always want everything to be clean and fair, and then they do this. This isn’t fair either,” grumbled the unlucky athlete, who skipped the podium ceremony. “I didn’t deliberately slam the door or anything like that. Lucinda knows that—she says so herself. It’s disrespectful to just take away the biggest moment of my career like that. Again: it’s disrespectful.”
Sanne Cant, team manager of SD Worx-Protime—and thus Schreiber’s team— was also furious. She called it “the most ridiculous reaction.” “I’ve never experienced anything like this,” said the Belgian. “It’s anyone’s guess what the UCI president saw, but maybe he should try sprinting on a cyclocross bike with a single bar in his tires.”
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Cant had already stated that the team would take action. “We’re not going to let this slide,” she said firmly. But the action is not coming from the Dutch team this time, but from the Luxembourg Cycling Federation. In an official statement on Instagram, they announced that a complaint has been filed.
«Following the women’s race at the European Cyclocross Championships, the FSCL has officially filed a complaint with the UEC regarding the jury’s decision,» the statement reads. «For that reason, the FSCL is requesting that the race results be determined based on the order in which the riders crossed the finish line.»
