Tears in Italy: unprecedented water bottle drama ruins gravel World Cup for Tessa Neefjes

Sunday, on a bed in the Italian Veneto, the realization suddenly came. “It’s really bizarre what has happened,” says Neefjes, still in disbelief. She had trained for this World Cup for months. The first global gravel championship – a rapidly emerging sport and a mix of road racing, cyclo-cross and mountain biking. Ideal for Cousins, who prefer riding on unpaved surfaces.

All-rounder Neefjes (25) became Dutch mountain bike champion two weeks ago and won several gravel world cup competitions in preparation for the world championship. So there is no lack of confidence with the cheerful West Frisian.

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The first 100 of a total of 140 kilometers went well. Neefjes was able to compete with the best of the competition. “Family and friends were there, they had put up a banner. I had a good start and came first. Goosebumps!”

But when she picked up a water bottle just before the intended post, things went wrong. “A motorcycle came up next to me and told me I was disqualified. I had no idea what was happening and therefore missed the beat.”

Although the organization wanted Neefjes out of the race immediately, she kept on cycling. “Motorcycles were constantly coming very close to me, which was quite intimidating. And at the end of the race two angry men from the organization grabbed me by the arm. I was left with a bruise. Really bizarre. I felt myself almost a criminal on a bicycle. But I didn’t want to stop. Precisely because I had trained for this for so long. I tried to turn the anger into power in the last part.”

In the end Neefjes crossed the line in 13th place, only to be removed from the result. “The strange thing is that this rule is not in the regulations. People from the cycling federation did not understand it either. If a penalty is already handed out for something similar, it is always a fine or a time penalty. But never disqualification.”

Tears

And so the smile gave way to tears. A sporting dream shattered, due to unclear rules and a disproportionate punishment. “I read all the rules of the gravel World Championship a day before the race and there was nothing about it. Together with the KNWU – the Dutch cycling association – we are filing a complaint, but I don’t know if that will help. I guess.”

Encouraging messages did her good, but the atmosphere was badly ruined. “Afterwards I was furious. I no longer felt like celebrating a party with friends and family. But I have proven that I can compete well in a very strong field of participants. That is sufficient motivation for next year.”

In addition to the debacle for Neefjes, there was also West Frisian success in Veneto. Enkhuizer Tino Haakman won a bronze medal in the 50+ category. Haakman is also the trainer of Neefjes.

In two weeks, the Wervershoofse wants to shine again at the NK gravel in Epe. Time for revenge. “The other participants have been warned.”