A question about Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine remained unanswered by the German cycling team Bora-hansgrohe shortly before the start of the Tour de France.
When the Russian captain Alexander Vlasov was asked in a video conference via chat what he thought of the fact that Russian tennis professionals are currently excluded from Wimbledon, but that he could drive the Tour de France, the question was not forwarded by the press spokesman. When asked by another journalist to ask Vlasov this question, the spokesman declined with a “Nope” and ended the conversation. The tour kicks off in Copenhagen on July 1st.
Vlasov had previously spoken publicly about the war once in early March. “Like many Russians, I just want peace. I’m not a political person and people like me weren’t asked if we wanted war. It was a shock to everyone and I hope it will end soon,” Vlasov wrote at the time Instagram.
His team boss Ralph Denk told the German Press Agency: “For me, it’s also diversity, that you stand behind a person, no matter where they come from, because this person, who is called Alexander Vlasov, is the least responsible for that Russia and Ukraine are at war. Other men are responsible for the war there, but certainly not a Russian citizen who is pursuing his passion, which is sport.”