Jingle Cross organisers part ways with announcer over 'sexist' remarks
The UCI Cyclo-cross World Cups in the US are two of the biggest weekends of racing for North American cyclo-cross, and at Jingle Cross in Iowa City, riders competed across three days with three separate UCI events - but by many accounts, the weekend's party atmosphere was tainted by sexist comments made by announcer Larry Longo during the women's races.
Fellow announcer Brad Sohner confirmed the accuracy of complaints posted on Instagram by Lindsay Knight, 34, of Chicago.
"Over the past three days, I - and countless other women in the [category] 1/2s race - have been told to smile, look 'like we're having fun,' been referred to as 'the wives having a miserable time,' and (today) told that we can 'limp through our last two laps'," Knight wrote.
The complaints were echoed by fellow category 1,2 racer Leslie Ethridge, 28, of Colorado, who took to Twitter, writing, "My favorite 'rage moment' was when we were pitting in the 1,2 race and the hose went a little cray [crazy] and he said, 'Well I guess that's what you get when your girlfriend pits for you'."
Jingle Cross promoter John Meehan took swift action on Monday to sever ties with Longo, issuing a statement calling the comments "in poor taste and offensive", and telling Cyclingnews that the comments were not consistent with the family atmosphere his event hoped to foster.
"We are aware of offensive remarks made by one of our PA announcers at the Jingle Cross event this weekend in Iowa City. The individual who made the remarks was hired as in independent contractor by us, Jingle Cross, Inc., to serve as live commentator during all USA Cycling and UCI race events," the statement read.
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com