Ethan Hayter responds to costly middle finger: “It was a bit childish”
CyclingWednesday, 11 March 2026 at 10:48
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Follow us on GoogleWith two major WorldTour stage races on the calendar this week, it is no surprise that the jury reports are starting to fill up with incidents. Ethan Hayter has already been handed a striking fine at the Tirreno–Adriatico, while Victor Campenaerts even received a yellow card at Paris–Nice.
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Starting with Hayter: the Brit was considered an outsider for Monday’s opening time trial in Italy. The Soudal Quick-Step rider eventually finished eighth, 32 seconds down on winner Filippo Ganna (INEOS Grenadiers). But his top-ten ride was not the most talked-about moment of his day.
Footage circulated showing Hayter suddenly raising his middle finger, apparently towards a camera. The jury did not miss it either: Hayter has been fined 500 Swiss francs and also docked 25 UCI ranking points. The reason behind the gesture is still unclear at this stage.
Why did Hayter give the camera the middle finger? The Brit responded to Cyclingnews before the start of stage 2 in the Tirreno: “It was a bit of a childish reaction but I was a bit frustrated with the motorbike coming next to me. It's not allowed and it does slow you down.”
“I should have just waved him away but…,” Hayter said. “They're not allowed to come alongside you, especially at the time trial. I also wasn't going very well, so I was a bit frustrated, I think it was a bit childish.”
Read more below the video
Campenaerts also penalised
Over in the other WorldTour stage race this week — Paris–Nice — there was also something notable in the jury report. Campenaerts received a yellow card on Sunday. While yellow cards are often shown for dangerous moments in a sprint, the Visma | Lease a Bike rider’s sanction was for something far more innocuous.
According to the report, the Belgian threw away a bidon after the finish of stage 1 in a place where it was not permitted. Speaking to Sporza, Campenaerts explained what the yellow card means for the rest of his week: “I’ve been punished with a yellow card, and a second yellow card in the same stage race means elimination,” he said — meaning Campenaerts now has to be extra careful to stick to the rules.
He also admitted his own mistake. “It was a moment of inattention from me, something to take with me,” Campenaerts continued. “We have to follow the rules. It’s my fault that I didn’t do it the right way.” Still, he joked that his offence may have made someone happy: “I think a lot of people were glad there was a bidon lying there.”
Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- - Félicitations in advance si ça se concrétise. Line-up looks très britannique mais con ambición grande. Tour 2027 en Edimbourg sería épico si les invitan.gearguru3310-09-2026
- - Vamos Ethan! Breakaway king of this Vuelta and super combative. Today’s flat chrono is perfect terrain—just keep it clean through the Jerez crosswinds.breakawaybikerd10-09-2026
- - Bit cautious here. Hayter’s had stop-start seasons with crashes/illness and I still don’t know if he’s a GC week-long guy or a TT/sprint hybrid. Curious whether they build around him or Pidcock first.pedalpowe2910-09-2026
- - Hayter’s engine + Q5’s growing train could smash team TTs and medium sprint stages. Mauro Schmid + Bittner coming too? That’s a nasty lead-out combo if they gel.cyclechamp4510-09-2026
- - Can someone explain how ProTeams get Tour invites? If Q5 aren’t automatic, what results do they need—UCI points, one-day wins, or stage race podiums? Confused how that process works.samanthak10-09-2026
- - Love the Edinburgh Grand Départ angle. If ASO is on the fence, a British TT champ in form plus Pidcock makes that wildcard case much stronger. Q5 look less like a ProTeam and more like a budding GC/ Classics hybrid.jennifer1910-09-2026
- - Not sure the piece nails the contract timing. Says “for 2027” but what about 2025–26? Is he staying at Soudal through 2026 even after being told no extension? Sounds a bit contradictory tbh.robert6510-09-2026
- - Huge if true. Hayter to Q5 alongside Pidcock, Wright and Gloag gives them a legit British core. With Glasenberg’s backing they’re clearly aiming at TdF wildcardHope he nails today’s TT after missing the Bilbao opener by09s—that’s been haunting him all Vuelta.tourdeforce910-09-2026
- - Love the honesty about hesitating because of Remco’s messages. Ego flattered but head ruled. That’s grown-up stuff. Vamos Tim, forza UAE!andrewf10-09-2026
- - “Brand team” line threw me. Does he mean title sponsor obligations? Either way, UAE pays the wages—totally get it. Bon courage Tim, allez!tourdeforce910-09-2026
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