After coming in for much criticism during the week for their controversial promotional poster, the organisers of E3 Harelbeke have decided not to use the particular promotional image for race banners along the route.
The posted was a reference to rider Peter Sagan, who last year during the Tour of Flanders pinched one of the podium girls.
According to the organisation it is “a playful message that cyclists understand. But also the UCI wanted nothing to do with the poster, and demanded that their logo on the banner was removed.”
The decision not to hang the banners, however, was according to the organisation nothing to do with the UCI.
“The Institute for Equality of Men and Women could lodge a complaint, and we risked a big claim,” the race organiser Jacques Cousens told Het Nieuwsblad. “We organise this race in our free time, and we did not want to risk a process and a lot of money there.”
“There are sixty banners printed from 18 to 20 meters. They are normally placed along the highway and along roundabouts in Harelbeke. That costs a lot of money.” complained Cousens.
