“We’re shocked by the personal attacks” – Dutch federation condemns online abuse after World Championship chaos
Gravel
The Dutch cycling federation (KNWU) has released a powerful statement condemning the wave of online abuse directed at riders in the aftermath of the women’s race at the UCI Gravel World Championships in Limburg.
The event, which took place last weekend in the rolling hills of South Limburg, produced a host of gripping stories from both elite and amateur competitors — but the sporting spectacle has since been overshadowed by the toxic fallout that followed.
KNWU “shocked” by personal attacks
In its official statement, dated 17 October 2025, the KNWU said it had taken note of the social media reactions surrounding the elite women’s race, acknowledging that “sport is emotional and evokes emotion”. However, the federation said it was “shocked” by the way certain Dutch riders were personally targeted in the days after the event.
“It is, in our view, completely unacceptable that athletes who compete with full commitment and pride are confronted with denigrating, insulting or intimidating messages,” said KNWU managing director Maurice Leeser. “This can never be the purpose of a tournament or event within our cycling community.”
The federation went on to stress that it stands “unconditionally” behind its riders and “condemns this behaviour in the strongest possible terms”.
Call for respect and responsibility
While the Gravel World Championships showcased the strength and depth of Dutch cycling — particularly in the women’s field — it also reignited debate around team dynamics and sporting ethics after Yara Kastelijn’s move effectively cost compatriot Shirin van Anrooij a likely world title. The resulting online storm saw several riders, including eventual world champion Lorena Wiebes, subjected to abuse and harassment on social media.
Seeking to draw a line under the escalating hostility, the KNWU urged fans to play their part in maintaining respect within the sport’s community. “Insulting or belittling riders via social media is in no way acceptable,” Leeser continued. “The KNWU calls on everyone not to ignore unwanted behaviour online. Such incidents can be reported to the KNWU’s Safe Cycling hotline.”
The federation concluded its message by reaffirming its support for all Dutch riders who “compete with passion and pride” and by calling for a renewed sense of respect and decency both on and off the bike.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- He is boring
leedorney08-11-2026 - To Twoje przemyślenia te bla, bla :)
Dariusz08-11-2026 - Uwielbiam patrzeć, jak wyjeżdża na czoło peletonu i zaczyna się rzeź...Dariusz08-11-2026
- Yeah, unreal.
parisbound0008-11-2026 - there needs to be space in life for pointless comments!Ketterechts08-11-2026
- 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
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In UCI Women Gravel worlds final we got Yara Kastelijn (NED) closing on Shirin van Anrooij (NED) so that Lorena Wiebes (NED) can win the sprint vs Vos (NED) What the hell
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