"I have to regain my faith in the system" - Johan Price-Pejtersen blasts UCI over his unsolved case of Danish title

Nearly 12 months ago, Johan Price-Pejtersen has won the Denmark's National timetrial Championships. Or has he? Has he not? Actually, nobody knows.

The Bahrain - Victorious rider was initially disqualified after the race by on-site jury for use of a cycling path parallel with the race course, but the verdict was later overturned by the Danish federation. However, as if there weren't enough twists, the UCI overturned the overturning this February, re-opening the case.

So what is the status nearly four months later? "Try calling UCI. Ask them," Price-Pejtersen replied when asked by TV 2 Sport about the precarious situation.

The important conclusion is that the 26-year-old will not get to wear the Danish champion's jersey in the Criterium du Dauphiné time trial on Wednesday. With the Nationals scheduled two weeks from now, that means this was his last opportunity to ride as a Danish champion. And that frustrates Price-Pejtersen deeply.

"As someone who has spent his entire life in cycling to break that illusion, I can feel that it is now more difficult to get out and train. I have to regain my faith in the system that cycling is a part of," he says.

At this point, it doesn't even matter what the verdict is - Price-Pejtersen already has an opinion of his own about the whole procedure. It is the fundamental nature of the matter has irritated Price-Pejtersen for a long time.

"To be completely honest, I think... if you're going to live this life, it's on a foundation of integrity, where you have to hold on to some kind of argument for why you do what you do. When you directly try to restrict the riders' legal security, it is a problem for me in relation to the integrity model that cycling can be value-creating for me. It is something I have struggled with for the last long time," he concludes.