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Giro d'Italia rider fined - for asking a woman out on a date

LottoNL-Jumbo rider Victor Campenaerts flashed message written on his chest during time trial - and got a 'yes' in reply...

A pro cyclist taking part in the Giro d’Italia has been fined by commissaires – for asking a woman out on a date.

LottoNL-Jumbo rider Victor Campenaerts unzipped his skinsuit before the start of the Stage 10 individual time trial on Tuesday to reveal a message that read, ‘Carlien daten?’ – ‘Carlien, a date?’

He also showed the message again as he neared the finish line – though it turns out that its intended recipient, Carlien Cavens (pictured below, centre), wasn’t watching since she was in a work meeting and only learnt of it later when a journalist rang her.

Happily, she said ‘yes’ and according to Sporza fancies a meal and perhaps a bike ride – assuming Campenaerts doesn’t want to take some time off riding after the Giro.

But she added: “I certainly do not want to go to the movies. I always fall asleep."

They'll be able to have a beer or three, as well.

Sporza added that the couple have known each other for a while with Campenaerts helping Cavens, a former triathlete, with her swimming.

Campenaerts’ romantic message was met with a frostier reception by the UCI, however, which fined him 100 Swiss Francs.

Commissaire Luc Herpelinck told Sporza: “If he wanted to send a message, that’s fine. But not during the race, and not with his upper body uncovered.

“There’s no place for that in a serious race like the Giro. Cycling must not be used for this reason.”

“It’s better the riders’ take their romance away from the sport,” he added. presumably after a brief pause to suck on a lemon.

“If we ignore it this time, we’re leaving it open to happen another time.”

A Belgian journalist has set up a Go Fund Me page to pay the fine for the rider.

To date, it has raised €31 of the €91 target.

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.

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13 comments

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QDubs | 6 years ago
0 likes

Minimal fine for a minimal infraction. This isn't so big a fine that it'd keep others from similar gestures (that are occasionally fun) but big enough that we'll not see it a Chef's Dozen (see Chipping Camden if you don't get it) times in every race. 

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RobD | 6 years ago
0 likes

Look at his time though, maybe if he'd pedalled a bit harder instead of flashing his chest he'd have gone a bit faster  3

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dgmtc replied to RobD | 6 years ago
0 likes
RobD wrote:

Look at his time though, maybe if he'd pedalled a bit harder instead of flashing his chest he'd have gone a bit faster  3

He wasn't allowed to go for a good result as he is in the Giro to support Steven Kruijswijk and he had to be 'fresh' the day after the TT. A bit of a shame for a national TT champion, but it's the Giro and this is modern cycling.

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cyclisto | 6 years ago
0 likes

A man got fined for declaring his interest for a specific woman. Finally, our crucial problems are solved, the humanity may sleep peacefully!

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Shamblesuk | 6 years ago
0 likes

Nice to see the fine fits the crime, nobody died here and a token fine seems OK. I thought it was a sweet gesture.

Love the Go Fund Me gesture too. Even more awesome if this goes to charity.

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Comrade | 6 years ago
6 likes

So let me see if I've got this right....he rides his push bike for a living, gets a fine paid for him, gets a date and some grog. Go Victor! Life is good, nice one, no wonder he's smiling. 

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RTB | 6 years ago
1 like

Commissaire Luc Herpe(s)linck

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Morat | 6 years ago
1 like

But what could be more Italian?

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muppetteer | 6 years ago
0 likes
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Grahamd | 6 years ago
10 likes

This is terrible, a cyclist using the TV coverage to make someone aware and get a result; next thing you know they'll be plastering sponsors all over the hoardings and rider's kit...

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Rapha Nadal | 6 years ago
4 likes

Yeah, God forbid that a cyclist do something quirky. 

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Jimnm replied to Rapha Nadal | 6 years ago
0 likes
Rapha Nadal wrote:

Yeah, God forbid that a cyclist do something quirky. 

Peter Sagan bum pincher haha

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StraelGuy | 6 years ago
10 likes

Ha, ha. I've chucked in 5 Euros, what a bunch of miserable gits!

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