Toxicity and Aggression in the Cycling Community

Introduction

Tobias Halland Johannessen, a Norwegian cyclist, recently revealed the extent of threats he has received since Tadej Pogačar's controversial Tour de France crash. Johannessen shared that he has been inundated with threatening messages in his inbox and does not wish this upon anyone.

Threats in the Cycling World

This is not the first time that the cycling world has seen such extreme reactions to controversial incidents. In 2019, during the Giro d'Italia, Italian cyclist Vincenzo Nibali was punched by a spectator. In 2018, Chris Froome was spat at and had urine thrown at him during the Tour de France. These incidents highlight the toxicity and aggression that exists in the cycling community, especially towards riders who are perceived as threats.

Impact on Riders

The constant threats and aggression towards riders can have a significant impact on their mental and emotional well-being. Not only does it create a hostile environment, but it also adds immense pressure on riders to perform and live up to expectations. This can have detrimental effects on their performance and overall mental health.