"I'm not going to risk my life with those barriers there" - Eneco Tour sprinter furious after dangerous finale and "unsportsmanlike" move
Cycling
For a second day in a row, it was a second place at the finish line for Charlotte Kool at the Eneco Tour. But unlike losing to Lieke Nooijen in the opening prologue where she could only blame herself, in the second stage it was an opponent's dangerous move during the final sprint which most likely cost her the victory.
After the finish, Kool's frustration was clearly visible. The Fenix-Premier Tech sprinter immediately made an angry gesture towards Barbara Guarischi who nearly sent the Dutchwoman into barriers. Kool was forced to adjust her speed, losing crucial momentum on her quest for victory.
"When you lose fairly, it is what it is. But I find it very unsportsmanlike this way," Kool reacted after the finish.
The reference to her Italian's dangerous sprint is in place. Jury eventually relegated the SD Worx - Protime sprinter for this precise reason. However that changes nothing on that it was Sandrine Tas who got to celebrate a victory. "At a moment like that, I try to push a bit, but I'm not going to risk my life with those barriers there."
The question of money
The incident was not the only thing Kool spoke out about on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, she had already drawn attention via Instagram story to the large difference in prize money between men and women in the Eneco Tour. While the winner of the men's prologue on Tuesday received 1,490 euros, the winner among the women had to settle for just 220 euros.
Even though the course and everything else was the same. "I wonder if the women get a discount on energy in the Eneco Tour," Kool noted sarcastically, referring to the race sponsor's business as gas and energy supplier.
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After the stage, she toned down her criticism. "It is not about the money for us; that is just a small bonus. It is more about the principle, that it is a bit strange," she explained.
Kool pointed out that the Eneco Tour specifically emphasizes that men and women race within the same event. But then the financial aspect is so polarized, it becomes hard to believe those statements according to the sprinter.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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