"Everyone in cycling saw what happened" - Johan Bruyneel baffled by UCI's decision to relegate Marie Schreiber at cyclocross European Championships
Cyclocross
The controversy surrounding the women’s European Cyclocross Championships continues to provoke reactions. One of the strongest voices has been Johan Bruyneel, who publicly questioned the performance of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) commissaires after their decision ultimately take the victory from Marie Schreiber.
The Belgian pundit believes the Luxembourg racer should never have been relegated - in words said on X. He sees an opportunity for the international governing body to show it is willing to admit its mistakes. Bruyneel was particularly critical of the judges’ ruling and called on the UCI to reverse a decision he considers unjust.
“What happened today at the women’s European Cyclocross Championships offers the UCI the perfect opportunity to show whether it can use common sense, do the right thing and overturn an absurd decision by its commissaires,” he wrote on social media.
Marie Schreiber and Lucinda Brand headed to the final straight isolated from the rest of the field, and had a head-to-head sprint to decide the European title. Schreiber won the sprint, but her movement to the left during the sprint was seen as too much, and she was ultimately relegated to second place.
The former sports director stressed that what happened was clear to everyone who followed the race, from fans to professionals. He pointed in particular to Lucinda Brand’s reaction. She was declared the winner after the jury’s decision.
Marie Schreiber appeared to take victory at the end of the elite women's race
Bruyneel also points to Lucinda Brand
As Bruyneel recalled, the Dutchwoman made it clear that, in her view, Schreiber had done nothing wrong. For the Belgian, that should give those in charge of the competition even more reason to reflect.
“Everyone in cycling saw what happened. Marie Schreiber should never have been relegated. Even Lucinda Brand, declared the winner after the jury’s decision, made it clear that, in her opinion, Schreiber had done nothing wrong,” he said.
Bruyneel does not believe commissaires are incapable of making mistakes. His criticism goes beyond this specific error and directly challenges the UCI to acknowledge that one of its own officials can make the wrong call, and to act accordingly.
“Commissaires can make mistakes. The real test is whether the UCI has the humility to admit them and the courage to correct them. An unjust decision should not stand simply because one of its own made it,” he added.
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The Belgian ended his message with another rebuke to the international governing body, urging it to put sporting fairness ahead of protecting its own officials. He made no secret, however, of his doubts that it would change its position.
“Let’s see if, for once, they can put fairness ahead of protecting their officials. I’m not holding my breath,” Bruyneel concluded, adding a yawning emoji.
Juan LarraCycling Journalist
Juan Larra is a writer for Cyclinguptodate and editor-in-chief of Ciclismoaldia, where he has played a central role since its inception. Under his leadership, the website has become a trusted source for professional cycling coverage, offering in-depth analysis, news, and feature stories.
A sports journalist with over 20 years of experience, Juan earned his degree in Journalism from the University of Seville in 2007. He began his career covering a wide range of sports—including football, basketball, Formula 1, MotoGP, tennis, and cycling—for platforms such as the official La Liga app, Vodafone and Movistar websites, NBA Blogdebasket, and Cadena Cope, honing his skills in writing and editorial management.
In addition to his work at Ciclismoaldia, Juan contributes to Cyclinguptodate and serves as editor-in-chief for the tennis-focused site Tenisaldia. Throughout his career, he has conducted exclusive interviews with cyclists and sports figures, provided detailed analysis of competitions ranging from local Spanish races to major international events, and acted as a special correspondent at prestigious races including Paris-Roubaix, the Tour de France, and the Vuelta a España.
Juan’s combination of experience, expertise, and direct access to athletes has established him—and the platforms he leads—as authoritative voices in professional cycling.
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- That is a very lazy way of putting it but so far on this website it seems like everyone is happy to look at everything lazily, even things that annoy them intensely. All they want to do is state their feeling and position but ask most to analyse a problem or come up with solutions or improvements and you’re stunned by silence. Nobody even really knows how this all happens. It’s very simple and quick to just say the UCI did it but I bet you they didn’t, I bet you not more than 2 people were involved, more likely just 1. The UCI may be ultimately responsible but it is not their decision, this is about hierarchy, power and delegation. The fact that protest is possible also means it isn’t over and that MORE people could get involved for a thorough review which could throw up anything. It is highly likely it was a sole commissar who decided and has that power in a first round. Therein might lie the problem the UCI has to consider, is it acceptable to give so much authority to one single person when it is quite possible for them to have a natural bias or be too easily susceptible to imposed bias. Who is to say an individual in this position isn’t susceptible to collaboration with outside players with interests in the results, nations, families, teams, betting companies, etc. On the one hand we have sports where these problems have been worked on way more to reduce such problems, on the other hand we have sports with far stricter and more draconian rules not even concerning safety or obstruction that nobody really questions like false starts or stepping out of lane or zones in athletics. If cycling hastowork on itself, it would be good if protagonists (all kinds) would start doing a little more than just moaning over outcomes.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- Yes, so why not make comments less pointless?Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- What a race! I didn't expect Vanthourenhout to collapse like that, and Wyseure did take the fight to Nys, but there was no doubt at the end. I also wonder what Aubin Sparfel would be capable of were he to race in the elites now. In the U23 ranks he is making good work of Giel Lejeune, who himself is among the better riders in the elites, and a top 10 contender in the big races (3rd at Kleebergcross, 8th at Berencross and 5th at Heerderstrand). In the French Cup, Sparfel is significantly better than Romain Debord (8th at Koppenbergcross and 10th at the Euros) and Rémi Lelandais (12th at Koppenbergcross and 19th at the Euros).
Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026 - There really was nothing in it. Schreiber was so much faster, and Brand was fighting to stay in the wheel in the sprint. Schreiber did move a bit, but to say she closed the door doesn't make sense because Brand couldn't enter it anyway, abd she wasn't impeded.Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026
- He should have been allowed to go to Movistar. Right now both arent a good fit for each other and are just wasting each other's time and effortabstractengineer08-11-2026
- Thibau Nys does exactly what Iserbyt is calling forRafionain-Glas08-11-2026
- i did not see it. was the relegation justified or an overly hard decision? and don‘t cross riders deviate from straight lines all the time? bumping into each others when they cut corners, etc … why being more strict with the rules on the finish sprint?Ketterechts08-11-2026
- seems like we are advertising the website with pointless comments…Ketterechts08-11-2026
- So?Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- The UCI do have their favorites.
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