Peter Sagan has been criticised for a photograph that shows him pinching the bottom of a podium girl after he was placed second in the Tour of Flanders yesterday.
As the winner Fabian Cancellara was given the customary kiss on the cheek by a blonde hostess, Sagan turned and 'goosed' her on the backside.
Social media immediately exploded, with thousands registering their unease at Sagan's act – and he was eventually forced to apologise.
Michael Hutchinson, 2012 Irish Time Trial National Champion, tweeted: “Shame that Peter Sagan has so much class on a bike and so very little off it.”
Irish Paracycling Team member Colin Lynch wrote: “Despite the symbolism of being kissed by scantily-clad women & then spraying champagne all over the place, groping them before is [off] limits.
“The podium move by Sagan was like school on Sunday. No class.”
Cycling writer and broadcaster Ned Boulting told The Independent: “To say it’s OK for winners to celebrate in these ridiculous clinches with these poorly paid, barely dressed and no doubt freezing cold women – I think it looks bad and pretty repressive.
“It’s seen as completely normal to have podium girls but it doesn’t need to be. If they ceased to exist [in the sport] overnight, no one would miss them.”
Jane Aubrey, editor of Australian cyclingnews.com, tweeted: “Anyone excusing Sagan's behaviour due to his age, needs to think again. In the workplace, it's called harassment.”
Adam Tranter, editor of website Cyclosport, retweeted the picture and wrote: “The moment you realise Sagan is actually just a bit of an idiot.”
Sagan's apology – via Twitter – was short and sullen. “Was not my intention to disrespect women today on the podium. Just a joke, sorry if someone was disturbed about it,” he wrote.
70 thoughts on “Peter Sagan under fire for pinching podium girl’s bottom”
Those girls are there for
Those girls are there for this. Seriously, how come anybody thinks their job is OK but pinching their ass is not? I’m with Sagan on this – if the girl didn’t mind, everybody else should just shut up.
ricolek wrote:Those girls are
Having podium girls is cringeworthy at the best of times, they’re being paid to look good in skimpy outfits which is sexist and not the image cycling should be sending out about women in sport.
Being there to look good however, does not equate to being there for the riders to sexually assault. The fact there are people in the world like you who hold the disgusting opinion that because a woman is there in a skimpy outfit, sexual assault is fair game, proves podium girls can’t be scrapped quick enough.
If he wants to do that in private and take his chances that the approach is welcomed, that’s one thing. Carrying out sexual assault in front of a live global audience (not to mention the fact it’s showing huge disrespect for the actual winner) is inexcusable. If I did that in my job I’d be fired on the spot – he should face consequences both within the sport and criminally for his actions.
CraigS wrote:Having podium
THANK YOU! Sagan probably didn’t imagine this would blow up so badly. But I am glad it did. Because if we just let this thing slide, we would’ve made it OK. And it is not OK. Let’s make this the first step to getting “podium girls” off the friggin’ podium. I, for one, can’t see the point behind them. And while we’re here, why was there little to no coverage of the women’s race? /soap box
ricolek wrote:Those girls are
Oh come out of the dark ages, puleeeassse! Those girls are paid to do a specific job whether you agree with podium girls or not (I see no need for them personally). They are not paid to have parts of their anatomy groped (even jokingly) by idiots like Sagan.
Imagine your wife/girlfriend, or even your daughter was that girl, standing in the cold, getting paid to peck a sweaty, smelly cyclist on his stubbly cheek and look good at event. Thats one thing and comes under the contract of what they are paid to do. Seeing another man then grope her ass would no doubt lead you into wanting to punch him and put him on his backside. Or would you say hey, thats what she’s there for! Good man! I certainly hope you have former notion or you’re a neanderthal just like Sagan.
Glad Sagan got stuffed by the
Glad Sagan got stuffed by the awesome Cancellara, pi**ed off that he tries to detract from Fabian’s win in this tacky way and serves the organiser right for continuing this unwanted “podium girl” practise.
Would I have done this no. Am
Would I have done this no. Am I upset about it no. Great race yes………..
lots of self-righteous
lots of self-righteous bullshit from journalists and the rabid twiterati, all of whom kept very quiet about the ridiculously sexist and tacky use of podium girls in the first place.
Don’t try to mitigate or
Don’t try to mitigate or excuse it by the fact that there are podium girls in the first place.
Podium girls may be an antiquated and slightly sexist thing.
But grabbing someone’s ass is sexual harassment at best, physical assault at worst.
It’s wrong. There is no mitigation, no excuse and Sagan is old enough to know better.
People lose their jobs for that sort of thing – they don’t lose their jobs for hiring pretty girls. There is a pretty clear distinction.
Plenty of jobs are based on looks. It’s not unusual. Do you think TV presenters, fashion models or upmarket shop assistants are all there solely because they could colour between the lines ?
But amazingly most of the population manage to get through their encounters with these people and not grope them.
ha ha oh this is funny,
ha ha oh this is funny, stupid podium girls ….
Man, guy made a joke that
Man, guy made a joke that wasn’t funny. Now everyone has gone nuts. Usain Bolt would have got away with it. So would Cipo.
Cooks wrote:Man, guy made a
Sexual assault is not a joke.
stewieatb wrote:jimmyd
Sexual assault is not a joke.— jimmyd
Stewie – I don’t think anyone is suggesting sexual assault is funny, however can you explain how his action was ‘sexual assault’? was there any form of sexual action or intention undertaken?
‘guy made a joke that wasn’t
‘guy made a joke that wasn’t funny.’
sexual assault is a joke??
Clearly he is doing it as a
Clearly he is doing it as a joke as he’s looking forward and smiling. People should just have a giggle at it and move on.
…and those girls look properly dressed to me!
jimmyd wrote:Clearly he is
Remember you said that when someone does it to your partner or mum.
zanf wrote:jimmyd
true and Fair.. but then I wouldn’t expecting my wife to be stood on a podium, handing out flowers and kissing other guys!!!
jimmyd wrote:Clearly he is
Sexual assault is not a joke.
Storm. Teacup.
Quite clearly
Storm. Teacup.
Quite clearly – given he was doing it in front of a live audience – a very poorly thought out joke. Right to be pulled up for it but to say he should face criminal action is ridiculous.
bollocks.
He was having a
bollocks.
He was having a laugh.
If she complained then he could apologise.
As for the rest of the world. Its none of their sodding business.
I’ve suspected Sagan is a bit
I’ve suspected Sagan is a bit of a kno b, this just confirms it.
Who knows, maybe Peter Sagan
Who knows, maybe Peter Sagan is some kind of subversive who knew deep down his actions were the only way to provoke a balanced debate about the role of podium girls in cyclo-sport and also to draw attention to the lack of coverage of the women’s race. and provoke various house-bound middle-aged men into fulminating tweet tirades about sexual assault.
pj wrote:Who knows, maybe
or he’s just a knob ?
…
…
Has anyone bothered to ask
Has anyone bothered to ask the girl how she feels about all this I wonder? 😕
Huge fan of Sagan the racing
Huge fan of Sagan the racing cyclist but he looks pathetic here. I don’t agree with the concept of podium girls but saying its ok to pinch them is like saying a women in a mini skirt is asking for it.
About podium girls. And boys: http://www.vulpine.cc/Blog/road/podium-boys-oily-pozatto-and-the-inequality-of-sex-in-cycling
why would anyone even want to
why would anyone even want to try to defend or laugh away Sagan’s action – it’s plainly wrong. If in doubt, why don’t you step out into your local high street and try to do the same, obviously while smiling to your mate’s camera.
What a pillock.
Podium girls
What a pillock.
Podium girls and bum pinching in 2013? When women’s cycling is struggling for recognition and respect, not to mention funding.. Gross.
Yemble wrote:What a
Amen brother/sister.
‘Social media immediately
‘Social media immediately exploded’ if only
Podium girls are
Podium girls are great,
people are taking this too seriously – sexism? get real. Its sport, its fun and Sagan is a funny guy – certainly got a laugh from me. Lighten up Dudes. 🙂
He is a King at least it
He is a King 😀 at least it brings some humour to the sport when a lot of riders and teams seem boring with no personality. Hence why Orica Green Edge are so great 😀
Perhaps adding humour and fun
Perhaps adding humour and fun to prize presentations would be better served by adding clowns and a stand-up set rather than ladies in tight outfits getting felt up?
no, aslongasicycle, i’ll take
no, aslongasicycle, i’ll take the lycra clad podium girls anyday – they are all good sports, at least the ones I have met were
Imagine Marianne Vos pitching
Imagine Marianne Vos pitching the butt of the podium boys 🙂
Oh, wait there are no podium boys for her 🙁
Personally I think it was a bit naughty. Maybe that is why the models are always happy that I have both hands on the camera 😉 at least no complains in the interview:
http://innercitymobility.blogspot.de/2013/03/preview-april-in-cities.html
Dr. Ko wrote:Imagine Marianne
I’d happily be a podium boy for Marianne Vos! 🙂 And I wouldn’t be mad at all (!) if she pinched my butt. In fact why wuld I be there if I didn’t enjoy the attention?
All in fun, no offense taken… Sagan was just a silly immature boy… He should just be taken to the side by his manager or his parents and told to behave…
His agent should say, look, you’ve got an image to protect, a marketability you could ruin with these stunts… Just think about it, apologize to the girl, pay for dinner for her and a companion at a fine restaurant, buy Cancellara a bouquet of flowers and get on with it! 🙂
Lighten up! IMHO.
Lighten up! IMHO.
North Korea has declared war
North Korea has declared war on the world
Meanwhile Sagan makes inconsequential schoolboy error after 120 mile plus ride in freezing conditions.
You lot of do- gooders who
You lot of do- gooders who feel so wronged by this bit of clowning around make me sick,get a life,lets do away with them all togeather then!! Cyclings been through enough bad press without you lot off TOSSERS all banging on ur righteous drums X(
Professional sports men (and
Professional sports men (and women) are, on the whole, a bit stupid. Thats why they earn their living playing sports and not performing heart surgery.
Stupid people invariably do stupid things when presented with the opportunity.
Sagan rides bikes for a living. The podium girl, rightly or wrongly, stands on a stage and kisses strange sweaty men who ride bikes for a living.
Life is all about choices.
In other news – the presentations at the the Tours of Oman and Qatar didnt feel the need for such archaic practises i notice and some presentations were even done by women who had some sort of qualification beyond being skinny and well groomed.
.
.
Some Fella wrote:Professional
In other news… amnesty international are still campaigning hard against the political and social discrimination shown to women and girls in Oman, meanwhile in qatar (the second most strict muslim nation) where many women are forced to wear Abaya, are not allowed to be accompanied at all times and generally repressed..there were no scantily clad
Some Fella – your argument holds very little water!!!
Oh and isn’t that a slightly antiquated, naive view – all sports persons are thick or else they would be heart surgeons – Emma Pooley will have to quit her phd before someone figures out what a thicko she is, oh and I bet David Beckham wishes he had worked at becoming a heart surgeon, cause he’s on the bones of his ar$e doing the job he does right now!!!
Whew! I was beginning to
Whew! I was beginning to think that people on this site were sensible, and that misogyny had no place here.
Glad to see that I was wrong.
/sarcasm
Why don’t all of you ask the women in your lives how they would feel if some guy very publicly pinched their ass? And why don’t you ask yourselves how you would react if you saw some guy pinch the bum of a woman you love?
It’s unbelievable that anyone would think this was ok. Be better people.
Completely unacceptable. As
Completely unacceptable. As is the stone-age sophistry being used by some people in attempted mitigation.
Sagan is just brilliant!! why
😀 Sagan is just brilliant!! why dont we just stop bike racing too eh? after all its dangerous. rip the life out of life. catch a wake up you plonkers the guy adds more entertainment than Team Sky in 21 days of le Tour
Podium/padock girls – this
Podium/padock girls – this firm schoolboy sexism seems to pervasive in powered and human powered two wheeled sports; T’is a bit captain caveman in this day and age. Great race however the organisers need to grow up and some riders need bromide!
OldnSlo wrote:Podium/padock
Why or how can sexism or sexist actions be justified by the time frame that it or they takes place? it either is sexist/sexism or not and unfortunately in many cases this is set by the perception of the majority who follow suit and don’t think for themselves with any quantitative/qualitative or rational concepts!
It seems from all these posts that the British press/public believe they are the moral compass by which the whole of the modern world should align itself!
I have to admit when i saw
I have to admit when i saw the picture it brought a slight smile to my face.
Not condoning what he did, cos it is wrong, but c’mon it was a spur of the moment thing, he’s sort of apologised so lets move on.
If the young girl involved wanted to make a complaint all well and good.
I always loved being called a
I always loved being called a do-gooder. It’s a shocking and brilliant insult.
YOU THERE! YOU! YOU DO GOOD! HA!
Ummmm. Thanks. Try our best.
I would.
I would.
I wonder how po faced people
I wonder how po faced people can get. People of adult mien can make sexual jokes without offence. I’m not sure that any of us are qualified to say how the girl felt about it all.
As someone else posted on the other thread, some podium girls have given cyclists a pinch on the bottom. It’s a bit of fun for what is otherwise a weird and uncomfortable process for all around.
I think the matter would be massively different if he groped off stage, and/or graped a tit. But it’s clear it was just a cheeky, if inadvisable nip. Her non-reaction is probably the key to all of this….if she was insulted/cheapened then she should and could, and still can make her feelings known.
So people, get a reality check.
What a complete and utter
What a complete and utter bunch of hypocrites, I don’t see all this outrage about having women parading on the stage and being forced to kiss men whilst giving flowers or toys, that’s sexist as well, these girls shouldn’t of been there full stop.
I had this argument with a mate, what do you mean forced to kiss men, well ask this question, if they refused to kiss the winner do you think they would of been up there ?
2 wrongs don’t make a right, but don’t put temptation in somebody’s way and they won’t stray.
mikeprytherch wrote:What a
Yep, she was asking for it. Apparently lots of women who are sexually assaulted are. 😕
If that’s “sexual assault”
If that’s “sexual assault” then the podium girls are serial rapists.
TheBigMong wrote:If that’s
Under English law what he did is at least assault and battery, and potentially sexual assault if it was decided that it was sexual in nature. As its more likely that he was just proving that he’s a knob, then it would be assault and battery.
This slagging off of podium girls is pathetic. They’ll just be with a modelling agency and this is the gig they’ve been offered.
colinth wrote:
This slagging
Its not a case of slagging off the girls, they are doing a job, bottom line is putting “pretty girls” on stage is sexist as well and they shouldn’t be there, what Sagan did was wrong full stop, but so is having podium girls.
mikeprytherch wrote:colinth
Its not a case of slagging off the girls, they are doing a job, bottom line is putting “pretty girls” on stage is sexist as well and they shouldn’t be there, what Sagan did was wrong full stop, but so is having podium girls.— colinth
I agree, but some of comments are aimed directly at the girls, practically saying they deserve whatever they get.
If only road.cc could have
If only road.cc could have somehow shoehorned something about Rapha and helmets into this article, then they could all retire.
<:P
Hmm – either keep the
Hmm – either keep the pointless podium girls AND the pinching, or do away with both. Anything else is flawed logic, internally inconsistent.
(I’m with the second option, btw).
Just wondering if now is the
Just wondering if now is the time to replace the podium girls with young club riders from local areas to present the awards to the winners. Would mean far more to them to meet their heroes than a model just doing a gig, and would give young male and female riders the opportunity to get closer to the pros than they currently do. Surely not impossible to link the presentation prizes to an event held the day/week before for local clubs? Read Millars book – a photo of Cav meeting him post event when he was a kid – same principles. Sure the riders would be happy to pass up a posed photo for a chance to make some kids day/year, and pretty sure their partner wouldn’t mind. Who knows, the next Lizzie Armistead/Marianne Vos might get a bit of a boost from presenting to the current versions too (addresses that issue of podium boys that just sounds odd)
regarding the offence – this
regarding the offence – this is a cut an paste from a recent law article.
The offence of sexual assault (by touching) is a serious and criminal offence. If you are accused of sexual assault, the Prosecution must prove that:
■You have intentionally touched another person,
■That the touching is sexual,
■That the other person did not consent to you touching them, and
■You did not reasonably believe that the other person was consenting.
Hope that clears it up a bit for those who are interested.
I never could stand Sagan.
I never could stand Sagan. Until now. Has the worlds media gone mad, or just us grey-faced joyless Brits?
Fuck me, it’s like being back
Fuck me, it’s like being back in the 1970s where casual racism, xenophobia, sexism, homophobia and misogyny were seen as perfectly normal and acceptable.
How can any decent fellow condone the actions of this idiot?
Shame on you.
ColT wrote:Fuck me, it’s like
+1 =D>
ColT wrote:Fuck me, it’s like
+1 :applause:
Nice bottom though… *runs
Nice bottom though… *runs for cover* =P~
I think this is being blown
I think this is being blown out of proportion, and no that doesn’t make me some backward neaderthal. He pulled a silly prank. Then apologised. Victim says she didn’t like it, but accepts his apology.
Newsflash: Young lad in public eye with some growing up to do, makes mistake in public eye.
The aggression in this and the other thread is more hostile than a pinch on the bum.
notfastenough wrote:I think
Any “aggression” on here isn’t a criminal offence, what he did potentially is, so I don’t think it’s being blown out of proportion at all.
Why does cycling need podium
Why does cycling need podium bimbos? I cannot think of a single reason.
Well I hope you are going to
Well I hope you are going to post his public apology that he made the other day…..just to show people how these things can be sorted out by adults without involving the law.
He’s just a young lad.
I just love his expression…
I just love his expression… it is perfect! Goose!