Peter Sagan under fire for pinching podium girl's bottom

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.

If that's "sexual assault" then the podium girls are serial rapists.

If only road.cc could have somehow shoehorned something about Rapha and helmets into this article, then they could all retire.

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 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 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. Until now. Has the worlds media gone mad, or just us grey-faced joyless Brits?

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.

Nice bottom though... *runs for cover*

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.

Why does cycling need podium bimbos? I cannot think of a single reason.

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... it is perfect! Goose!

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.

I would.

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 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.

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!

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

Completely unacceptable. As is the stone-age sophistry being used by some people in attempted mitigation.

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.

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.