The interview did not go unnoticed.
The reaction was therefore not long in coming.
Just hours after the publication of the punchy interview with Nacer Bouhanni in the newspaper L'Équipe, where the French rider spoke for the first time about the harassment and racism of which he was the target on social networks, Jake Stewart was keen to support his road opponent on his Twitter account.
If the young Briton of 21 years specifies that he does not agree on the way of proceeding of his elder in the peloton, he regrets that the latter is the victim of amalgamation and racism.
[1/2] Despite our recent difference of opinion, let's be absolutely clear, I stand united with @BouhanniNacer.
We will all agree and disagree on certain things, but one thing that should not be of question is racism ...
- Jake (@jakey_stewart) April 6, 2021
“Despite our recent difference of opinion, let's be absolutely clear, I stand in solidarity with @BouhanniNacer,” says Stewart on his account.
We will all agree and disagree on some things, but one thing that should not be questioned is racism ... The comments and racism directed at Nacer this week are absolutely deplorable.
There is no place for racism in this world.
To the so-called "fans" of cycling who made these comments, you are not welcome here.
"
Words that should comfort Bouhanni, 30, because Jake Stewart is, quite involuntarily, at the origin of this surge of hatred.
The controversy dates from Sunday March 28.
Launched in the final sprint of the Cholet-Pays de la Loire race, the two riders are in the fight, neck and neck.
A few hectometers from the finish, the Arkea-Samsic rider pushes with his shoulder and swings that of Groupama-FDJ against the balustrade.
A dangerous maneuver which pushed the UCI to seize its disciplinary commission to sanction the French.
The sprinter of Épinal, initially third, was also downgraded from the event.
Shortly after, the Briton, who was later learned that he suffered from a fractured left hand and that he was forfeited for the spring classics, had challenged, video of the sprint in support, his opponent on social networks: “Nacer, I would like to ask you what you were thinking… You clearly don't have a brain”.
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Bouhanni then publicly apologized while ensuring that he had not sought to bring down Jake Stewart.
“I'm sorry for Jake Stewart.
The sprint went like this: I see Elia Viviani launching and I want to take his wheel.
I admit that my mistake was to change course to take his wheel.
I don't see Jake Stewart at this time.
When we come into contact with each other I find myself unbalanced.
I make up for it as best I can so as not to fall.
I just wanted to take the suction because the wind was coming from the right side, by no means was it intentional ”.
An apology that was not enough to prevent Bouhanni from being the target of a wave of hatred and racism on social networks.