"Rogue director" blamed and role terminated after women's cycling team suspended by UCI for "fraudulent" dressing of mechanic as rider to avoid disqualification

The women's cycling team that made headlines across the sporting world this week, after the UCI dished out sanctions including a one-race suspension for the entire team, have blamed its "fraudulent actions", namely dressing a mechanic up as an ill rider to avoid disqualification from a race, on a "rogue director" and said he would not be working with the team in the future.

 In a statement reported by Cyclingnews, Cynisca Cycling accepted the "need for disciplinary action" and blamed a "rogue director" for the "one-time mistake", adding that the team would not be appealing the governing body's decision.

"Cynisca Cycling understands the need for disciplinary action taken by the UCI. The team did not and will never condone this sort of behaviour. This was a one-time mistake by a rogue director," the team said.

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"We thank the UCI Disciplinary Commission for their careful consideration of the actions. On behalf of the team, we once again apologise to the event organisers for the behaviour that occurred at the event. The team looks forward to continuing our mission to advance more women in cycling."

The bizarre incident unfolded at last year's Argenta Classic, a women's one-day race from Ekeren to Deurne in Belgium, when one of the US team's riders, Greta Richioud, came down with illness and was unable to compete. With race officials telling the team that they would not be able to participate without all five riders, DS Danny van Haute told the remaining riders to lie about Richioud's whereabouts and asked team mechanic, Moira Barrett, to wear Richioud's kit and sign on as the fifth member of the team, a plan that would then see Barrett inconspicuously return to her proper role ahead of the race starting.

The UCI accepted that while "the members of the team were therefore all found to have participated in a fraud", "Danny van Haute was found to be the main perpetrator and was sanctioned with a suspension from any activity in cycling until 31 December 2025 as well as a fine".

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Cynisca Cycling stated "at the time of the event, other team management and staff were unaware of the deception" and that "upon learning of the incident, the team took action internally and terminated all current and future relationships with Mr Van Haute and the mechanic".

"The team then fully cooperated with the UCI investigation," Cynisca Cycling said.

Barrett was also sanctioned by the UCI, who said the mechanic had played an "active role in the fraud", and has been suspended from any activity in cycling until 1 September 2024. The entire team's one-race suspension will be served at next month's Vuelta Extremadura Féminas.