Race news
‘F*ck you!’: Vanthourenhout confronts Cameron Mason after costly Middelkerke crash and receives UCI fine
Michael Vanthourenhout's pursuit of another cyclocross victory ended in frustration at the Superprestige in Middelkerke, where a fierce battle for position with Cameron Mason triggered a crash, an angry confrontation and ultimately a financial penalty from the UCI.
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Cor Vos
The incident happened on the eighth of ten laps, with seven riders still in contention for victory. Mason tried to squeeze past Vanthourenhout on the inside just before a short climb. Vanthourenhout responded by putting his shoulder into the Briton, but lost his balance and went down.
It proved costly. The Belgian dropped several positions and had to fight his way back through the field. He eventually returned to the front and challenged Joran Wyseure for victory, but had to settle for second place.
Vanthourenhout confronts Mason after the finish
Vanthourenhout was clearly still angry when he caught up with Mason after the race. "You came up the inside," he shouted, before briefly making physical contact with the British rider. As he rode away, he added: "F*ck you!"
Race officials took a dim view of the confrontation and handed Vanthourenhout a fine of 250 Swiss francs. The penalty was for his behaviour after the finish, not for the incident on the course.
Speaking afterwards, Vanthourenhout admitted that Mason's move had been perfectly legal, even if he was far from happy about it.
"It was in the heat of the battle. I don't think he should come past on the inside just before that little hill, but it's a move that's allowed," he said.
"I lost my balance and suddenly found myself in sixth or seventh. It's very difficult to get back to the front from there."
The crash had come at a particularly frustrating moment for Vanthourenhout, who was looking for his fifth victory in seven races. Despite recovering to finish second, he felt the incident had cost him a better chance of winning.
"It played a role in the result, but that's part of racing. I kept giving everything."
Asked about his reaction towards Mason, the Belgian put it down to the emotions of the race.
"Something like that happens in the moment. You know your race is over if you go down there. I'm disappointed, but also happy with the podium."
Mason later took to Instagram with a pointed response:
“Something, something, ‘own medicine’, something, something.”
Vanthourenhout and Mason will meet again on Sunday at the European Cyclocross Championships in Zeddam.
