Campenaerts and others throw support behind disqualified rider Van Schip: #freewillem

Jan-Willem van Schip was disqualified in the Ronde de l’Oise for the third time in a year. While the earlier incidents were about his position on the bike, this time it was slightly different. But Dutch journalist Thijs Zonneveld still believes the Dutchman is being treated unfairly. His colleagues also showed their support under his Instagram post.

In the Ronde de l’Oise, Van Schip arrived with another striking bike. According to the regulations it would have been fine, but to be safe he still discussed it with the jury. Despite that conversation, he was fined in the second stage. And in the final stage he was removed from the race: he had tucked a bidon into the front of his jersey.

“That is not allowed,” Zonneveld said, analysing the situation in his podcast In de Waaier. “But of course riders do that all the time, sticking bidons or gels into the front of their jersey. It is called chest fairing, and it has become quite popular lately. The UCI has started taking a stricter line on it. There are a number of teams that have already received letters from the UCI.” Incidentally, putting nutrition in your jersey will only really be banned from next month.

At the moment, the rules on this are very unclear, which is why the organisers were able to hand out a disqualification. But it creates a skewed situation. “That is the eternal problem with the UCI. The rules are not clear, and enforcement is sometimes with a straight leg and other times just a warning or nothing at all. And of course it is no coincidence that with Van Schip it is always with a straight leg.”

Every time, Van Schip is the one who suffers, the Dutch journalist believes. He is under the microscope in every race. “You see it in a handlebar that is just a little different, or a seatpost or position.” But Zonneveld criticises the fact that it is always the Dutch rider who is punished, and nobody else. “There is a word for this, and it is class justice. That is very clearly the case here.”

On the other hand, Zonneveld also sees a difficult position for the UCI. “Jan-Willem is seen as a difficult guy. That is also the reason he did not make the move to a better team in his best years. He rode for Roompot, and then it was back to the continental teams. For the UCI it is difficult that he does things, and shows things in the pro peloton, that people everywhere will start copying.”

There is certainly no shortage of support for Van Schip. “It was heartwarming to hear that, when the peloton came past and I was standing in the verge, everyone shouted #freeWillem,” the rider said in his Instagram post. His followers have picked up that hashtag. Victor Campenaerts, who is also known for his aerodynamic knowledge, is joining in as well.

Author: David Bavin-Hobbs - [email protected]