Mihkels and Thijssen escape bans after racist gestures at Tour of Guangxi

Madis Mihkels and Gerben Thijssen been handed punishments for the racist gestures performed and publicised at the recent Tour of Guangxi. The pair have escaped a racing ban and have instead been fined and enrolled on an educational course.

The Intermarché-Circus-Wanty duo caused controversy at the season-ending WorldTour race in China last month, with Mihkels performing a ‘slanted eyes’ gesture in images filmed and posted to social media by his teammate Thijssen.

The team initially pulled Mihkels from the race, before then amending their announcement to remove Thijssen as well. The UCI subsequently referred the matter to its Disciplinary Commission, which handed down a verdict on Wednesday November 15.

“Besides the immediate withdrawal from the Gree-Tour of Guangxi, in China, by their team, they shall each pay a fine and physically attend an educational course on the fight against discrimination,” read a statement from the UCI.

“Both riders acknowledged the violation of article 12.4.004 of the UCI Regulations and accepted the sanctions proposed by the UCI.

“Upon ratification of the proposed sanctions by the UCI Disciplinary Commission, the proceedings were settled by means of an Acceptance of Consequences pursuant to article 12.6.019 of the UCI Regulations.”

The UCI did not specify the amount of the fine nor any further details of the course in question.

Intermarché-Circus-Wanty last month suggested that, in addition to removing the riders from the Tour of Guangxi, it would “take the necessary disciplinary steps to close this incident”. The team have yet to comment on the UCI’s decision or outline whether any more steps will be coming from their side.

Gianni Moscon was suspended by Ineos Grenadiers – then Team Sky – for racially abusing Kévin Reza in 2017, a punishment that effectively precluded the UCI taking any action of its own.

In 2021, the UCI handed a five-month suspension to German coach Patrick Moster, who urged his riders to “catch the camel riders” during the time trial at the Tokyo Olympic Games. That incident was deemed a violation of article 12.4.017(d) of the UCI regulations, which is for contraventions of "the basic rules of decency".

The Intermarché pair, by contrast, have been punished under the 'discrimination' section of the regulations, which covers anyone who "demeans, discriminates against or denigrates a person or group of persons in a manner that violates human dignity on the grounds of race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, religion, political belief, language, ethnic or national origin or social condition".