Finding. Thibau Nys, Belgian champion, 23, made his season debut at the Koppenbergcross. He wore red shorts, a continuation of his tricolour jersey. He has won this race three times before. I do not comment on the race. I note the kit.
First, the intent. Asked by Sporza, the rider said: “No idea, I didn’t really think about it. I thought it had something to it.” The intent is therefore not declared. I cannot classify what is not declared.
Second, the precedent. Paul Herygers, world champion in 1994, rode for years in red shorts. According to Sporza, these were not at first a nod to him. I note that a precedent exists. I note that it was not invoked.
Third, the information procedure. Sven Nys stated that he was seeing the kit for the first time, that he had heard talk of it in the living room a few weeks earlier without paying attention, and that the only person in the team who knew was Karen, “because she is the one who sorts it out.” At the town hall, it is the same. One person knows where the file is. The others find out at the counter. The file was complete.
Fourth, the deadline. The rider explained that if he wins the Europeans next week without taking the Belgian jersey, he will not ride in the tricolour any time soon. “So I wanted to finish well,” he said. One deadline, one motive, one date. That is what I ask of everyone.
My wife discovered my new socks as I left on Sunday. Twenty past nine.
Verdict: compliant. I do not note that the red, in the photo, was visible from my armchair in Amay. It is not in the column.
It’s true, we checked: Sporza.
