'My work isn't sexist and no one forces me to do it' says Tour of Flanders podium girl

Lien Crapoen, a podium hostess for Flanders Classics, explains that there's much more to her role than meets the eye.

Lien Crapoen (right) on the podium of the 2016 Tour of Flanders

(Image credit: Watson)

In response to the Tour Down Under using junior cyclists to present prizes instead of podium girls, Flanders Classics hostess Lien Crapoen says that there is more to her work than just handing flowers to the day's winner.

The Australian stage race this year decided to do away with podium hostesses and have junior cyclists hand out the flowers instead, and now Belgian's biggest races are under fire too from the Secretary of State for Equal Opportunities, Elke Sleurs, who has criticised the tradition.

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