The role of the podium hostesses has prompted a new debate, this time with the official signs of the E3 Harelbeke cycling test, which is being held in Flanders. The image shows the back of one of them – with a blue head – and the hand of the cyclist approaching. As an inspiration, the action of Slovak Peter Sagan has been used, who in 2013 launched a wink to play the ass on the same stage as Harelbek. Ten days later, on the podium of the Tour de Flanders, he moved from gesture to action. “It wasn’t my intention to insult women, it’s a joke,” said the cyclist. But don't laugh. They then felt insulted, and now they have felt insulted, and so have many men. It's no less.

Several friends, such as Doctor in Historia María Castejón, talk about the reaction that would provoke the gender exchange among the protagonists: “What would happen if Tatar guys appeared alongside female athletes? If you hit your ass publicly, people would say it's a mold, a slut. There is also a big difference. Girls, in general, don’t think they are entitled to it in any man around them.” For her part, cycling expert Paloma Castro said that if winning women were awarded the “hand-fairy” awards and not the local authorities over 50 years, more girls would follow this sport. As if that were the case, we do not believe that the exchange of roles ar-eme on the podium is one of the keys to combating machismo and reversing the situation.

The French Magalie Thierry, who has worked as a hostess on the podium in recent years, has admitted that the ceremony that followed the departure of the race may seem “somewhat outdated”, but has added that most viewers love it, that she fulfilled “a dream” when she participated in the Tour de France and that her presence gives “a touch of femininity” to sports activity. On the contrary, the website editor Laura Weislo Cyclingnews.com is clear that girls must cease to be “pure decor” of men successfully: “As far as professional cycling is concerned, the only women in the media are podium models. This increases inequalities in the sports field.” Visibility and treatment are two of the keys, without falling into deeper reasons.

Although the exploits of Sagan are isolated cases – we at least remember nothing else – more and more fans are calling for the work of the podium hostesses to be rethought, to put it mildly. We would put young cyclists in the village or in the area where the right and left stages of the athletes, volunteers who organize the races on the face, who work in the shade end. However, commercial brands and other agents that collaborate financially with the events usually look for pompous photos.

At least, the race organizers, H3 Harelbeke, have decided to withdraw the controversial poster of all advertising media, following the disagreement of the ICU International Cycling Union.