If you ever needed proof of the obstacles that women’s cycling faces, a tweet from Wiggle-Honda’s Elisa Longo Borghini this afternoon will show as much.
The Italian rider, who won this year’s Tour of Flanders following an impressive solo break, posted on the social networking site that she overheard native spectators at today’s stage of the Giro d'Italia Internazionale Femminile near Genoa saying some rather uncomplimentary things about the women’s peloton.
Longo Borghini finished fifth in Loano, 2:41 behind solo stage winner Lucinda Brand (Rabo-Liv). She sits just 31 seconds behind race leader Megan Guarnier (Boels-Dolmans) going into the last two stages this weekend.
This sadly isn't the first case of unsavoury language in the air at bike races this week: the UCI confirmed today that CCC Sprandi Pokowice rider Branislau Samoilau was fined a month's wages after reportedly aiming a racial slur at MTN-Qhubeka's Eritrean rider Natnael Berhane.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
-
Giro Rosa Gavia stage re-routed following landslideOrganisers have opted to finish the stage at the Lago di Cancano
-
Marta Bastianelli bags Italian victory while it’s as you were for the Giro Rosa GC
With just one day to go, Anna van der Breggen sits atop of the GC and looks unlikely to budge
-
Lucinda Brand storms to solo Giro Rosa stage eight win despite late crash
The Dutch rider broke away from the peloton alone to take a solo win as GC contenders remain at the same time
-
Lotta Lepistö wins Giro Rosa stage six whilst Barnes' break is swept up
The flat stage ended in a sprint finish, Barnes and breakaway companions absorbed by the peloton with 13km to go
-
Megan Guarnier wins the 2016 Giro Rosa
American champion Megan Guarnier wins the Giro d’Italia Femminile, extending Boels-Dolmans’ domination of the WorldTour
-
Young Brit Jessie Walker making an impression in Italy’s Giro Rosa
New girl in the pro peloton, Britain’s Jessie Walker makes a big hit in the heat of Italy
-
Emma Pooley takes final Giro Rosa stage as Marianne Vos wins overall
Britain’s Emma Pooley wins her third stage and the mountains classification
-
Emma Pooley takes second stage win at the Giro Rosa
Emma Pooley all but secures mountain classification; Marianne Vos continues to lead overall
