Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Back to news
news
Racing
French pro Yoann Offredo attacked with baseball bat during training rideYoann Offredo following assault during training ride (via Facebook).jpg

French pro Yoann Offredo attacked with baseball bat during training ride

Wanty-Gibert rider suffered a broken nose and bruising all over his body in assault
by Simon_MacMichael
Mon, Apr 24, 2017 20:57
32

Wanty-Gobert rider Yoann Ofredo has posted pictures to Facebook of the injuries he sustained today, including a broken nose and severe bruising, when he was assaulted during a training ride, with his assailants hitting him with a baseball bat and a bladed implement.

The 30-year-old, who was 14th at both the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix earlier this month, said that he was not angry at what had happened but that the assault had left him “in shock.”

He wrote: “I started riding a bike at the age of 12 with all the feelings of being carefree that goes with it. I never imagined that from this passion would be born a career, that of a bike racer.

“Nor did I ever imagine that in the course of my career I would meet some magical people, who in some cases have left us way too soon.

“I never imagined either that this job would be so dangerous.

“I never imagined that exercising my profession would at times involve me risking my life.”

Offredo, who joined the Belgian team this season after 11 years with FDJ, did not reveal where the assault had taken place nor the exact circumstances of it.

However, he wrote: “Today, I was the victim of an assault with a bladed weapon and baseball bat while training with two friends.

“The result – a broken nose, a rib in a very bad way and bruising all over my body, but beyond physical wounds above all I am shocked.

“I’m not angty, I am just sad to realise that this beautiful sport that I  love, I don’t want my kids to practise it … it’s too dangerous.

“You go out in the morning to train, but you never know if you’re going to come back home.

“I’m just sad to realise, that in this country [France] of the Rights of Man, the rights of cyclists are ignored.”

Yoann Offredo
Assault
Simon MacMichael

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

Add new comment

32 comments

Avatar
kitkat replied to StantheVoice | 7 years ago
0 likes

StantheVoice wrote:

Jamminatrix wrote:

Very convenient the assailants description - of migrant origin - is completely ommitted from almost every news article, just as Le Pen gears up for runoff...

 

Yes, I've tried really hard to find more details but failed.

+1

but well done in trolling the thread

Avatar
bikesupremacist replied to Jamminatrix | 7 years ago
5 likes

Jamminatrix wrote:

Very convenient the assailants description - of migrant origin - is completely ommitted from almost every news article, just as Le Pen gears up for runoff...

I am a longtime reader of road.cc. I typically come by to read a bike review or about some shifters or something...

I've never had a user account but I felt compelled to create one based on the infuriating comments on this article. 

The fear mongering insinuation that migrants were behind the attack is ridiculous. How thick headed do you have to be to think that such arguments can hold water? 

I grew up riding road and mountain bikes in Colorado, one of the most cyclist friendly states in the US. Nevertheless, I've still had friends have guns pulled on them by angry drivers. Working in bike shops and being part of the cycling community I saw instances of friends in the community being attacked and harassed by drivers. 

You could literally just take a quick spin on google and see unfounded your "criminal migrant" insinuation is. A couple of years ago a cyclist was shot and killed by an angry driver in Iowa. Hell... you can get beat or shot over a parking spot (and I can assure you that the person's ethnic background has nothing to do with their propensity towards violence). 

So please, if you're going to be ignorant and biased and hateful... keep it off the bike websites... we are here to read about bikes and bike-related stuff... Furthermore, do us all a favor and go read a book, go travel and meet people from different backgrounds. Use your ability to think critically just a little bit more please.............. 
 

Pages

Latest Comments