Bruyneel slams UCI over Schreiber/ Brand European Championship drama: 'I’m not holding my breath'

It’s been known for years that former team director Bruyneel doesn’t think much of the UCI, so we’re taking his statement with a big grain of salt. Like a lot of other people on social media, the Belgian was surprised by Schreiber’s demotion, as she briefly veered to the left during her sprint against Lucinda Brand but generally stayed on her line.

Schreiber therefore called the stripping of her title “disrespectful,” and the people around her were furious. The Luxembourg rider did not go up on stage to receive her silver medal, on the strong advice of her team leader, Sanne Cant. “I wouldn’t let her do that, because you shouldn’t accept a medal you don’t deserve,” said the Belgian.

Team Schreiber announced that they wouldn’t let the matter rest, but experience shows that in situations like this, there’s very little that can be done. Still, Bruyneel hopes that the UCI will review the footage again and acknowledge its own mistakes. “This offers the UCI the perfect opportunity to show whether it can apply common sense,” said the Belgian, who is also known as an analyst on the podcast The Move.

"Can the UCI do the right thing and overturn an absurd decision by its commissioners?" Bruyneel wonders aloud, even as he knows what the answer is likely to be. “Let’s see if, for once, they can put justice before protecting their officials. I’m not holding my breath.”

According to Bruyneel, the European Championship decision was unjust, a view that even European champion Brand later agreed with. “Commissioners can make mistakes. The real test is whether the UCI has the humility to acknowledge those mistakes and the courage to correct them. An unjust decision shouldn’t stand simply because one of their own people made it.”