"I stand for the truth. I stand with Charlie Kirk" - Chloé Dygert's message at the Rwanda worlds and why the UCI might take action

"Sports shouldn't be mixed with politics" is a stance that has been used a lot over the past few month in pro cycling due to the effects of the anti-Israel protests that have happened at the Vuelta a España. The UCI itself has asked to separate the two and maintain cycling away from politics. Now a rider, Chloé Dygert, has used her bike to send a political message at the World Championships, reigniting a debate on whether there should be consequences or not.

During the Vuelta a España, mass protests on Spanish roads forced organizers to neutralize or outright cancel three out of the 21 stages, whilst many others were affected. Riders were insulted, assaulted, endangered frequently and several also crashed due to road blockings - which brought consequences to the peloton as a whole and were rarely directly related to Israel - Premier Tech, the target of the protests. This is due to the current actions of Israel in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, and the lack of action from many Western countries.

At the time, the Vuelta organizers did not remove the team from the race, and argued they could not, with the governing body of the sport being the one with the power to make such a decision. But the UCI strongly criticized the protests whilst lending no solution to the problem that had come up. "The UCI strongly condemns the exploitation of sport for political purposes in general, and especially coming from a government. Sport must remain autonomous to fulfil its role as a tool for peace."

At the elite women's time-trial event, American rider and twice a former World Champion Chloé Dygert rode the event with a large sticker on the right fork of her bike saying "I stand for the truth. I stand with Charlie Kirk." The question now remains on whether the UCI will take action against the American rider or comment on the situation.

Whilst this was not immediately captured by the TV broadcast, pictures later released from the event showed Dygert's bike with a very clear sticker on her right fork, where it was most visible. Charlie Kirk was an American far-right political activist, known for his role in sharing conservative values towards the younger generations in the country.

The UCI's very own Code of Ethics reads: “The persons bound by the Code shall not undertake any action, use any denigratory words, or any other means, that offend the human dignity of a person or group of persons, on any grounds, including bot not limited to skin colour, race, religion, ethnic or social origin, political opinion, sexual orientation, disability or any other reason contrary to human dignity.”

Kirk he was best known for his strong stances against LGBT rights, abortion, gun control; his often clear xenophobic and homophobic views; and for directly aiding the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States in the most recent presidential elections. This would strongly go against the UCI's stance on what riders are obliged to follow.

His assassination earlier this month became a top story in the United States, and Dygert's use of the 'I stand for the truth' words are a strongly politically charged message. Furthermore Dygert has in the past been involved in other controversies regarding her political views, giving further depth towards this episode.