"The Selfie King remains on his lobbying tour for goodwill and votes" - Johan Bruyneel condemns David Lappartient's appearance at the start of Tour du Rwanda
Cycling
2025 should've been a big year for cycling in Africa with first-ever Road World Championships organised on the continent. Rwanda, a country with years of experience as organizer of a prominent 2.1 stage race, was granted this honor.
However its recent involvement in conflict across the borders in Democratic republic of Congo sparked a lot of controversy. Many condemn the actions of Rwandan government, which openly supports the rebellious forces. Others are worried about the safety of the event with Kigali just hours away from an open conflict.
This includes a cycling outcast Johan Bruyneel. In his latest X post, quoting a short video posted on Rwanda's government X account where the UCI president can be seen posing next to the president of Rwanda before the start of this year's Tour du Rwanda.
"While the EU warns all of its members countries to stay away and recommends to freeze their aid with Rwanda over the countries atrocities in DR Congo, UCI President David Lappartient, The Selfie King remains on his lobbying tour for goodwill and votes. The Show of David must go on, anything for votes and money!", he writes.
According to the Belgian, Lappartient's actions are despisable. The ulterior motives of the man, who is a candidate to become the new head of Olympic Committee, are too easy to see through. Boosted by Lappartient's earlier words that he is not planning to move the 2025 World Championships at the moment, Bruyneel points out that the UCI chairman is already looking beyond his responsibilities in cycling world, instead of addressing the pressing issue.
Meanwhile, the European Parliament approved a course of action regarding Rwanda's actions including a following point: "Calls for the cancellation of the 2025 World Road Cycling Championships, organised by the International Cycling Union, in Kigali if Rwanda does not change course". Spanish news outlet Relevo reported that overwhelming majority of votes in the European Parliament supported this course of action.
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While the EU warns all of its members countries to stay away and recommends to freeze their aid with Rwanda 🇷🇼 over the countries atrocities in DR Congo, @UCI_cycling President @DLappartient , The Selfie King, remains on his lobbying tour for goodwill and votes.
— Johan Bruyneel 🇧🇪 (@JohanBruyneel) February 23, 2025
The Show of David… https://t.co/jZK1XmzDin
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- Yeah, looks slow up there.Jumpyjohn28-03-2025
- lol His aim was well off! MVP was well past him before the guy decided to spit.Cyclingsbestfan28-03-2025
- But you know that’s what makes this website live ;-)Mistermaumau28-03-2025
- I hope he stays upright too and I hope that in this years Paris Roubaix we get a proper good old fashioned man against man race. Can't wait!Cyclingsbestfan28-03-2025
- What can you expect from a guy like that. Probably home now enjoying his pseudo fame before his evening session of paid sex chatting.Mistermaumau28-03-2025
- There is a lot of wisdom in some of our older people and some have the wisdom to use it wisely. Others not so much.......Cyclingsbestfan28-03-2025
- I loved De Vlaeminck back in the day, but I have to agree with him: he probably is a little burned out. I don't see him winning much this year.
Barney28-03-2025 - Tadej is 26 year old, Mr. Sour. And now, as you said, because the money, the cycling is extremely professionalized and competitive: winning is very hard, even for very talented riders.
maria2024202428-03-2025 - How many grand tours did Vlaeminck enter/finish let alone win? This article gives "old man yells at cloud" vibesPedalmasher28-03-2025
- I think Hinault is right: Pogacar is the first rider since he and Merckx who can win such a wide variety of races with such audacity and verve. I hope by the time he is done, Pog is widely acknowledged at the greatest of all time. Unlike Merckx and Hinault who were (probably necessarily in their era) pretty unpleasant characters, Pog is a cool, refreshingly humble guy who routinely thanks his teammates after they've taken their last bleedout pull for the day, gives bottles to little kids in the middle of a solo breakaway, walks around and congratulates his competitors at the finish, win or lose. There will always be those within the peloton and fanbase who resent his success, but he seems genuinely well-liked. He seems like the antidote to past other dominant champions who still inspire bitterness or disappointment. That said, Paris-Roubaix is a race that is both dangerous and requires a lot of specialized experience. I hope he stays upright.Barney28-03-2025